The Scottish Lowland Football League voted to have “B” teams back in the division next season again after an 11-4 vote in favour of repeating what has been a “commercial” success this year.
Despite the naysayers, almost every team has seen a record attendance when Rangers has come to town, not the primary objective, but proof that they are, in fact, a welcome addition.
One of the other reasons given for those that backed the move is that they feel young players have benefitted from playing senior football and this is what I can get on board with.
Loans simply do not work for Rangers.
You can argue all you want, but out of the last 100 players to go out on loan, how many have gone on to be a regular in the first-team? Two, tops.
I’m more than happy to be corrected but Allan McGregor and Charlie Adam are the exception rather than the rule and even then goalkeepers don’t really count because there is only one position that they can play in and there is, usually, at least two senior keepers at the club for them to get past – if they don’t go out on loan they can only play youth football.
The B team project has allowed our academy players to play in a well drilled system with Rangers coaches who are constantly preparing them to be promoted to the first-team so that if they play well or they are needed, they fit in seamlessly.
You only have to look at the cameos that Alex Lowry and Charlie McCann have made this season, Leon King too, not one of them has looked out of place or overawed, in fact, they have looked more composed than some of their elders. Sending them to Alloa Athletic or Queens Park just wouldn’t have achieved the same results.
I’d like to think that the players mentioned don’t spend another season in the Lowland League and that they make a permanent step up to the first team, training alongside seasoned internationals will only see them improve even further If they get this chance and more minutes next season it also motivates the B team players by showing them that there is a pathway to the big time.
It’s good to see an element of Scottish football embracing change rather than being obstructive, if it doesn’t work out we can always go back to the way things were but, in fairness, it looks as though they are willing to play their part in something that could benefit both grassroots and Scottish football as a whole.