Talks held to revive Reserve League as options close on Celtic youngsters

The SPFL and SFA have held talks about reviving a Reserve League as more clubs realise that the gap between Academy football and first team level is almost impossible to bridge. 

In the season just finished Celtic fielded a team in the Lowland League providing 34 fixtures which benefitted a squad that was mainly made up of u-18’s. 

Those players will need to find themselves at Premiership or Championship sides next season if they are to project themselves towards Ange Postecoglou’s first team plans. 

An application from Hearts to join the Lowland League has been rejected by the 16 member clubs, for reasons not quite clear Celtic have aligned with Hearts and could end up on the outside with the Jambos. 

Finding loan moves or arranging dead-end friendlies look like being the alternative plan but discussing Hibs’ plans for next season, Development boss Stevie Kean told the Edinburgh News: 

We’ve been in talks with the SPFL and SFA – there is a possibility that there will be a new reserve league format that we would support and be interested in. 

We would supplement that with playing games against teams from England that would really push our players in a different direction. Sometimes when we play teams here, everybody knows everybody else; the players know all the other players in the other team. 

Celtic last played in a reserve league in season 2018/19 where they played each of the other 17 teams just once which did little for the development of players with just two matches a month. 

Next season Celtic will take part in the u-19 Champions League but regular, testing domestic fixtures are also required if anyone is to follow Callum McGregor into the first team picture with the current club captain having to wait till the age of 21 to get his first team debut.