Cox: Clubs must do more for welfare of axed kids

DAVID COX insists Scottish football still isn’t doing enough to support young players from the mental health impact of being thrown on the scrapheap.

The Cowdenbeath midfielder revealed in 2014 he had attempted suicide after being released as a teenager at Kilmarnock which triggered a battle with depression.

But as clubs across the country BY GORDON PARKS prepare to shed a huge batch of youngsters from their squads this summer the 29-year-old believes there needs to be a duty of care and not just empty promises.

He said: “I don’t think clubs do enough for young players.

“When I was younger there was always promises you’d be looked after. You’d be told they’d arrange for clubs to come and watch you, things like that.

“That never happens at clubs. Once you’re out the door then that’s it. You are forgotten about.

“But there needs to be more done in terms of where they go after that.

“When I left full- time at Kilmarnock and went part-time I had no experience outside of football. I found myself a job and I had just had a wee girl so I had the pressures of that as well and all that led to my mental health becoming as poor as it was.”

Cox was speaking at a William Hill media event and is an ambassador for the SFA Mental Health and Wellbeing League which runs until the Final at Lesser Hampden on May 25.