U21 bonus critics ‘have missed point’

Chief executive Stewart Regan has hit back at claims the SFA’s £1.5 million scheme to reward financially clubs who field two or more under-21 players is unfair to clubs outside the SPL.

It has emerged that the initiative will hand top-flight clubs £1,000 if they start with three or more players under the age of 21, or £750 if they select two.

Conversely, clubs in the Scottish Football League will have to be content with just 10 per cent of that handout, meaning they would receive just £100 and £75.

That is a stance which has drawn the anger of many, including SFL chief executive David Longmuir. But Regan has accused critics of missing the point of the new scheme, which is intended to give Scottish talent an opportunity to flourish at the top level.

“I think the SFL critics have missed the point with our performance payments for under-21s,” Regan insisted via Twitter. “We require our best talent to be playing at the highest level in Scotland, ie SPL. That’s why we are rewarding SPL clubs at ten times SFL [rate]. The Scottish FA has ring-fenced performance monies and cannot reward all clubs for playing young players at the same level. Otherwise, it ceases to be performance-based.”