Levein backs Old Firm plan for 14-14-18 and colt teams in bottom tier

Former Scotland and Hearts manager Craig Levein has backed proposals for Rangers and Celtic to enter colts teams in a new 14-1418 league set-up – insisting it is a “great idea”.

Rangers have tabled the plan in a move that could save Hearts from relegation to the Championship.

The Old Firm colts would be admitted to the bottom tier and immediately pay a £125,000 joining fee to teams in that division. That amount would reduce by £25,000 each season across a four-year deal.

Levein insists anything that can help promote young players should be considered.

He said: “I’ve got a great interest in developing young players and I think that a lot of the best young players are at Old Firm clubs, but unfortunately they don’t get to play first-team football, sometimes until it’s too late.

“So the actual idea of allowing them to play against men at an early age is a great idea. I don’t see how it is harming anybody else.

“I’ve not read it from start to finish but it looks like it’s going to cost both of those clubs money, but I think they’re doing the right thing.

“I’m talking about developing young players, that’s the part of it that I like.”

Levein, however, has branded the lack of leadership from the SPFL hierarchy as “embarrassing” over the fiasco in how the season was brought to a premature end due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer have all been relegated despite the leagues not being played to a finish.

He added: “It’s been embarrassing, really – that’s the word I would select. People talk about self-interest but all you’re really going to get from clubs is self-interest.

“At the centre of the organisation, they need to lead, they need to come up with innovative ideas.

“That responsibility belongs with the board and also the execs and I don’t think they’ve done a very good job.”

Meanwhile, Championship clubs are expecting their first payment of next season’s money from the SPFL in August – even if they do not get back playing until October.

The second tier looks set to delay its return until later in the year in a bid to cope with the cost of testing for Covid-19 and the need to play behind closed doors.

Raith Rovers vice-chairman Dave Sinton has welcomed the prospect of cash from the SPFL and praised the Rovers supporters, who have so far ploughed almost £100,000 into the coffers with various fundraising initiatives.

He said: “The indication from the SPFL is that, as long as the Premiership restarts as scheduled, we will get our normal first instalment of Tv/sponsor funds in August, despite the fact we are not playing.

“In addition, the sale of season tickets in the lengthened closeseason will help defray costs.

“When football gets started behind closed doors, we hope to generate extra revenue by streaming the home games live to home and away fans and we are hoping this will give a reasonable contribution.

“But it cannot make up for the loss of big crowds, with the associated revenues from hospitality, lounges and bars.”

Picture: SNS. Former Hearts manager Craig Levein says the SPFL’S lack of leadership is “embarrassing”.