Celtic will play in this season’s Reserve Cup but not the SPFL Reserve League.
Last season’s 17 match Reserve League proved to be of little use for the development of players with Hibs, Aberdeen and St Johnstone also opting out of this season’s competition.
The Celtic website has announced Reserve Cup matches against Dundee, Morton and Dunfermline spread over two months with those clubs likely to be playing in the Reserve League.
The lack of competitive action beyond u-18 is a major problem for Celtic with players like Jack Aitchison, Stephen Welsh, Daniel Church, Scott Robertson and Robbie Deas missing out on a crucial period of development.
Others such as Karamoko Dembele, Armstrong Oko-Flex and Ewan Henderson could be doing with some sort of competitive work outs if they are to make in-roads when called upon into the first team.
Should Celtic reach the group phase of the Champions League they will be involved in the u-19 UEFA Youth League while the Colts side will play Queens Park in the first round of the Tunnocks Cup at Hampden on August 6.