Wishart pleading for a limit on loans

PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart has called on the footballing authorities to limit the number of loan signings Scottish clubs are allowed to make from other countries.

Wishart is worried that the number of players flooding into the country from England and abroad is smothering native talent, thus harming the national team and the clubs who abuse the system.

Every Premiership club has taken players on loan this season. Kilmarnock are the worst offenders with 16 — 14 of them from English clubs.

Wishart is also concerned that this reliance on loan players will have a negative impact on our clubs’ chances of making it through the Europa League qualifiers.

‘There’s no doubt that the loan system into this country needs to be addressed,’ he said. ‘I understand that managers keep bringing in players on these temporary deals because it’s a cheap — sometimes free — and easy way to improve their squad.

‘I’m also aware that they are working in a results business and that, because of the pressure they are under, it can make more sense for them to bring in a talented player from down south and shove him straight into their team than to try and improve the young players already on the books.

‘But this short-termism has to stop because it isn’t really helping anyone. Clubs are in danger of losing their identities if they keep bringing in players who are here today and gone tomorrow.

‘There’s nothing wrong with being a development club but not if you’re developing someone else’s players.

‘Plus, if you have loan signings playing every week until the end of the season, then what do you do if you’ve qualified for Europe?

‘The current influx of loan players makes the SFA’s Project Brave initiative look ridiculous.’