SFA and Uncle Roy carving up the Elite Youth set up

[Kneetrembler]

I haven't seen all the detail behind this but certainly I'd feel quite uncomfortable about Aberdeen being guaranteed elite youths purely because we're a "bigger club" in Scotland.

Same here. Sounds fucking atrocious.

[HibeeJibee]

Would the "Lucky 8" be in place for all-time?

Or would the 'bottom' or 'worst-performing' X change every Y years - or everyone put through a new set of applications every Y years?

EDIT: Maybe hard to break in, anyway, "Lucky 8" might already dominate infrastructure, experience, talent and money.

[frankthetank22]

2 hours ago, Jim McLean's Ghost said:

He sat on the committee that wrote the proposal.

So when the 8 Elite Academies are announced and it is Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Forth Valley (SFA), Highland and Hamilton it will be too late to start talking about corruption of the process and cronyism.

Do you care to name any of the OTHERS who are on this committee?     Or have you some problem with Uncle Roy that you wish to discuss??

[Jim McLean's Ghost]

10 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:

Would the "Lucky 8" be in place for all-time?

Or would the 'bottom' or 'worst-performing' X change every Y years - or everyone put through a new set of applications every Y years?

EDIT: Maybe hard to break in, anyway, "Lucky 8" might already dominate infrastructure, experience, talent and money.

Even if they were to re-evaluate every few years the investment from the SFA in the intervening years will have put the Lucky 8 further beyond the clubs that have been left out.

 

[Jim McLean's Ghost]

6 minutes ago, frankthetank22 said:

Do you care to name any of the OTHERS who are on this committee?     Or have you some problem with Uncle Roy that you wish to discuss??

Roy is the one who out in the papers defending it. If any of the others want to stick their head above the parapet I will fire shots at them too.

Here is the committee

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).

If you look at the clubs they represent and Uncle Roy's comments it would seem 7 of them are stick ons to be in the Lucky 8. If the eighth slot goes to Accies then everyone* on the working group will be getting the benefit.

*not counting League 2 Annan

[Staggie52]

3 hours ago, Jim McLean's Ghost said:

I'm talking about it now because it is in the paper now, because Mark McGhee is talking about it now.

Your response was

Meaning you don't think now is the right time for discussion. So when is the right time?

My response was non story because your story was that it was all down to Roy McGregor and that his Academy was benifitting from it. Now we seem to be agreed that it's not all down to him and not only does he not have an Academy, the Highland Academy might not even be selected.

if you'd started a post to discuss the proposals that would be a different matter.

[Jim McLean's Ghost]

2 minutes ago, Staggie52 said:

My response was non story because your story was that it was all down to Roy McGregor and that his Academy was benifitting from it. Now we seem to be agreed that it's not all down to him and not only does he not have an Academy, the Highland Academy might not even be selected.

if you'd started a post to discuss the proposals that would be a different matter.

I'm sure Roy will be thankful you have defended his honour.

And for a man without an Academy he doesn't seem aware of it

Quote

"We are fortunate at Ross County that we have the facilities" - Uncle Roy

Very fortunate.

Just like this "Lucky 8" also had the good fortune of being on the working group that decides the rules.

[Mr Romanov]

Terrible idea. It is the way things go in football now. The 'big' clubs get protection and the little clubs suffer. Reflects British society well tbf.

[dogmc]

Does this not contravene a whole raft of Employment legislation?

Once article 50 hits.....there really isn't much in the way of employment legislation other than yon slogans about work sets you free....

[Staggie52]

7 hours ago, Jim McLean's Ghost said:

I'm sure Roy will be thankful you have defended his honour.

And for a man without an Academy he doesn't seem aware of it

Very fortunate.

Just like this "Lucky 8" also had the good fortune of being on the working group that decides the rules.

I think Roy can look after himself, as for the "lucky 8" you really don't get this do you. The SFA appointed a group to come up with proposals. They don't make the decision, the SFA does. That's the way bodies like this generally work, but at least you've moved from blaming one to blaming eight. Want to discuss the proposal yet?

[JamieThomas]

Scottish football seems hell bent on pissing in it's own shoe.

[Dons_1988]

It's also a total slap in the face to clubs like Hamilton and others that have done an outstanding job bringing through talent.

[TheScarf]

4 minutes ago, Dons_1988 said:

It's also a total slap in the face to clubs like Hamilton and others that have done an outstanding job bringing through talent.

From clubs like Ross County who bring through, well no one. They all get released at 19 and sign for Elgin City or Brora Rangers.

[blastie_12]

Given how successful we've been in the last 18 years at international level it's good to see we've got a vision to stop trying completely to produce players and just pander to the 2 cheeks

[forkboy]

It's a terrible idea. And reeks of a total stitch up when as said, 6 of the 8 clubs are on the committee proposing the idea, and the 7th & 8th are the most likely to get in. If County were left on the outside despite having good facilities we'd rightly be hacked off. I have no idea how this is meant to be good for broader Scottish football. A lack of concentration of youth talent in 8 teams hardly hurts other countries. Perhaps they should be doing more to improve the standard of coaching in this country at youth level, to actually try and bring through some players with a grasp of basic techniques. At best this just seems like playing musical chairs, at worst it's a concentration of funding and the best prospects at what are mostly the biggest and richest clubs in the country.

Uncle Roy would have to go a long way to convince me that this is anything to do with the best interests of Scottish football.

[DeeTillEhDeh]

Who will have the final say on this?

[TheLad]

Don't agree with only a top 8 but something needs to be done. Some of the academies are rank rotten, far too many kids in the system thinking they are going to be pros when in reality they have zero chance and the clubs signing them know it.

[gudge1903]

would maybe make sense if celtic and the new rangers didnt get elite status and left them to do theyre own thing and give those spots to hamilton and killie.

equally, maybe they are anticipating a fight and are willing to concede numbers and thats why they are starting with the barghaining chip of 8 with the potential to drop to 10 or 12 which is still a big difference from 16.

or most likely they are just rearranging the deck chairs because the monkeys in charge seem to be there to keep the status quo going as they seem incapable of making sensible decisions on youth development, future proofing, finances, fair play or rule breaches.

 

corrupt and incompetent would be the best words to describe scottish footballs administrators and its getting harder to hide.

[Staggie52]

11 hours ago, TheScarf said:

From clubs like Ross County who bring through, well no one. They all get released at 19 and sign for Elgin City or Brora Rangers.

Such as Don Cowie and Garrie McKay Steven?

[RandomGuy.]

2 minutes ago, Staggie52 said:

Such as Don Cowie and Garrie McKay Steven?

A stunning plethora of young players to prove how good your youth system is. 

Its almost a decade since they were at your club, whos come through since then?