QP president slams rule change
Queen’s Park president Alan Hutchison believes changing the rules of the Irn Bru Cup has not benefited the development of young footballers.
SPFL chiefs allowed colt teams to field two over-age players in this year’s competition, but all of the under-20 sides entered failed to make it past round two.
And Hutchison, who watched his own club knocked out by Motherwell Under 20s earlier last month, believes there is an “obvious”solution in order to give players experience of senior football.
In a statement on the Queen’s Park website, he said:“This time last year I argued that while the young players in the Premiership colts teams would have gained valuable experience from playing against senior league clubs, it would in no way prepare them for the challenges of competitive football.
“In my opinion the only way that young players will develop the skills necessary to compete in senior football is to play in the first team.
“If their parent club is unable to find a pathway to allow them to do that, then the obvious solution is a development loan to another senior club.
“Look at the way Anthony Ralston has pushed his way into first team contention at Celtic.
“I firmly believe that his loan spell with us during season 2015/2016 at the age of 16 has played a big part in his development to this level, much more so than under-20s football could have done.”