SFA to spark civil war as Regan tries to railroad revamp through

[ian1964 10,625]

SCOTTISH football is set to be rocked by a civil war.

 

And the conflict has been sparked by an SFA blueprint to improve our game after 20 years of failure at international level.

 

MailSport has possession of the document that seeks to completely revamp our game.

 

And we can reveal the SFA face a club revolt as they try to get their blueprint over the line.

 

The strategy has been six months in the making after being instigated by axed performance director Brian McClair.

 

 

McClair instigated the strategy (Photo: SNS GROUP)

But the creation of an eight-club academy elite has put six clubs who fear being excluded on a war footing – even before the blueprint is officially unveiled.

 

The fall-out could see clubs such as Motherwell, Dundee United, St Mirren, Kilmarnock – with productive youth set-ups and a strong commitment – being locked out of the elite.

 

Clubs fear chief executive Stewart Regan could try to railroad the proposals through without a vote.

 

And it’s understood one club has already sought legal advice, questioning whether he can do so.

 

The clubs’ main concern is they risk losing their best talent to those in the top tier.

 

And the rebel clubs are worried they will lose out on SFA cash if they fail to make the top eight.

 

"Project Brave: Raising the Bar - Changing the Game" represents a total revamp of Scottish kids’ development from academies all the way to the international team.

 

But despite plenty of common ground and agreement with the working group’s findings, the creation of an eight-club elite has sparked division.

 

 

Regan and consultant Alistair Gray – who chaired the working group and was the architect of the SFA’s original Performance Strategy in 2011 – have already met Premiership clubs to discuss the document.

 

They’ll now sit down with Championship chiefs on Wednesday at Hampden.

 

The strategy report claims it expects 16 clubs to be interested in bidding for Performance Academy status.

 

Their aim is to cull the current bloated structure down from 29 academies and 2300 players.

 

But MailSport understands two tiers of eight clubs has been privately proposed.

 

 

It’s also believed the SFA’s Professional Game Board have warned Regan he would struggle to get the backing of all clubs.

 

However, the chief exec is determined to push through with what he sees as radical and necessary change.

 

The working group summarised their objectives as ‘Better Scottish international players, playing better football - more often’.

 

A year on from MailSport’s ‘Braveheart Surgery’ report into the failings of the youth system, the working group highlighted most of the same issues we did.

 

Now their proposals are aimed at improving the entire product with some major changes.

 

Amongst them are:

 

*Slashing the numbers of academies and players while increasing the quality of coaching, and paying more of their £2.2m funding on outcomes rather than box-ticking

 

*A new SPFL Trophy to replace the Development League. This will require a MINIMUM of three overage players in each team, as well as a maximum of five, to give young players better experience of a competitive environment.

 

*Academy football from Under-11 to Under-16 will move to a summer season, with winter Futsal programmes. Match days will also be split to allow full-time coaches to take more teams.

 

*The creation of a new dual age band for 17 and 18-year-olds on pro apprenticeships, which will include coach education and refereeing qualifications.

 

*Increased use of development loans to lower-league clubs for players aged 17-21.

 

Most clubs who have been part of the process feel the document is full of solid ideas.

 

But there are serious fears from some over being excluded from the top group and losing their best talent to rival clubs.

 

*The working group consisted of Gray as its chair, Chris McCart (Celtic), Craig Mulholland (Rangers), Steven Dunn (Aberdeen), Craig Levein (Hearts), Roy MacGregor (Ross County), George Craig (Hibernian), Les Gray (Hamilton), Iain Blair (SPFL), Jim Chapman (Annan), Creag Robertson (Falkirk, now Rangers), Derek Hunter (SFA), Campbell Money (SFA).

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sfa-spark-civil-war-stewart-9291119

[pete 2,499]

yes that is the changes that are going to revamp Scottish football. Giving Kids a referee course. The problem is at the grass roots. Having Junior teams without youth systems is totally crazy. Boys clubs only have a future to 18(?) and then players are dumped to find their own teams. Every boys club should also have senior teams so as there is also an aim to reach your clubs senior first team. boys club system is a load of crap if it leads to nowhere. Far too many talented players are lost when they reach 18.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

I hope there is a few casualties then at the SFA.

[boabie 230]

We get this every 20 years or so.

It always failed in the past.

This one will too.

A national institution ran by amateurs, just as it always has been.

Edited November 20, 2016 by boabie

[limeburner 0]

We get this every 20 years or so.

It always failed in the past.

This one will too.

A national institution ran by amateurs, just as it always has been.

Unfortunately,they are not paid like amateurs---a hefty whack whatever happens!!As some rock star said"win some,loose some,its all the same to me"Motorhead i think it was.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Unfortunately,they are not paid like amateurs---a hefty whack whatever happens!!As some rock star said"win some,loose some,its all the same to me"Motorhead i think it was.

 

Correct, Regan couldn't run a Hamburger stall and he's paid a vast salary for his incompetence.