Malky setting the bar high for young Scots

SFA: Performance schools looking to turn out players of English Premier League standard

Scottish Football Association performance director Malky Mackay has told the country’s newest crop of budding footballers they will be expected to reach English Premier League standards in their development.

A three-year sponsorship partnership with sportswear firm JD was announced as 48 children were inducted in the fouryear performance schools programme at Hampden Park.

The seven schools, to be renamed the Scottish FA JD Performance Schools, will ensure the best young players in Scotland combine their football education with a normal curriculum from the ages of 12 to 16.

Mackay spoke of the sacrifices to be made by the youngsters as he promised to set the performance bar high.

The former Watford, Cardiff and Wigan boss said: “The demands me and my coaches will put on them will be England Premier League standard.

“I said to them, what they think is hard work, double it, then you might have a chance.

“They need to realise how much sacrifice they need to make in their lives over the next few years, how hard they are going to have to work, on their own, away from everyone.

“When they have to do extra work on their own, sacrifice going out with their friends, sacrifice going to the cinema when they have to train, sacrifice what they eat and drink to make sure that their bodies are in a situation where they can play professional football.

“That’s what I would urge the players and them to realise: what they think is hard work is nowhere near it.

“There will be ones who fall away and ones who can’t handle it but I want to make sure we show them the path that is open to them.”

Meanwhile, Mackay confirmed it will be late October before Project Brave, an initiative to revolutionise the youth game in Scotland by streamlining the number of players in the academy system, becomes clearer in its formation.

“We are still talking to the clubs,” he said.

“They have their part to do in terms of filling in their applications and getting their house in order and us going to look at that.

“I think by late October we should all have something to say on it.

“There is constant dialogue between ourselves and the clubs and it is bubbling along.”

“I said to them, what they think is hard work, double it, then you might have a chance. MALKY MACKAY

Picture: SNS. SFA performance director Malky Mackay, performance school graduate Harry Cochrane and Stephen McManus with the latest players to join the SFA Performance School scheme: Timam Scott, Cameron Cooper, Arran Hughes, Dylan Lobban and Martin McArthur.