Well dig deep to seal their elite slot
MOTHERWELL have admitted they had to spend a significant amount to ensure they secured elite status in the SFA’s new Project Brave youth system.
Well have joined Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Hamilton in the top band.
Ayr, Dundee United, Inverness, Partick Thistle, Ross County, St Mirren, St Johnstone and the Forth Valley academy have been accepted into a second tier “progressive’ category”.
Dundee, Morton, Queen’s Park and a Fife academy have been awarded “performance” status. Ross County and Morton’s rankings are both subject to potential appeals.
Top-tier clubs will be handed more funding but some have had to spend six-figure sums to meet criteria for full-time academy staff including coaches, scouts, analysts and a medical professional.
“Despite our fairly public reservations, we had no other option but to strive to be at the elite level,” said Motherwell chief operating officer Alan Burrows.
“What it means for us in real terms is a significant financial outlay in terms of the staff and infrastructure at the academy.”
But Partick Thistle academy director Gerry Britton said: “We didn’t feel the additional resource required to meet the elite criteria would bring with it big enough proportionate benefits to deem it worthwhile.”
SFA performance director Malky Mackay said: “The bandings are not fixed and will be reassessed in June 2018. No door is closed to clubs outside the Elite bracket with aspirations to move up.”