Celtic B team set to continue in Lowland League despite its failings. It’s clearly not an ideal environment and a return to reserve football would be a much better solution…
Green Brigade at Albion Rovers v Celtic B. Photo social media
The much maligned Celtic B side who compete in the Scottish Lowland League has been subject to severe scrutiny in the past few years, and despite rumours of the club’s involvement in the lower leagues coming to an end, it’s been revealed that we plan for our youngsters to compete at that level for the foreseeable future.
For me, and I’m not alone, it’s not an idea that’s working, and it brings no value whatsoever to our youth players in terms of their overall development. Something that is mighty evident in our recent record at rearing the stars of tomorrow. Didn’t Hearts take the decision to withdraw their B team from this environment, following the Rangers who did so previously. This leaves just Celtic having a B team operating at Lowland League level.
Albion Rovers players applaud the support. Photo Albion Rovers Facebook page
Talk of loaning out our young players to Championship or even League One clubs is a positive step, and it will be of more benefit to them than playing for a side who have no pressure on them whatsoever, and regularly finish mid table.
But in my opinion we need a return to the old tried and trusted system of reserve football which was very much a regular fixture back in the day, and one for some reason or another that was discontinued, something that proved to be a huge mistake, not that the powers that be will admit as much.
Reserve football was made up of promising youngsters, and hardened pros who were out of favour at their clubs, players also returning from injury found it a very worthwhile exercise, and more beneficial than a behind closed doors ‘bounce’ game.
Albion Rovers supporters watch the game at Clydebank. Photo Albion Rovers Facebook page
Reserve football was also a regular thing. Week in week out, with games in front of some decent crowds, fixtures that had meaning, and tested players to the fullest. Something that our current crop of youngsters are lacking experience in.
I reckon that Celtic should forget the Lowland League experiment, and get together with fellow clubs and push for the return of reserve football in Scotland. It’s for the good of our game’s future.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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We are already operating at a level where a reserve league would potentially be beneficial for ourselves.
Unfortunately no other clubs in Scottish football, will invest in the likes, hence the smaller clubs in the lower leagues can pick up discarded young players from such an arrangement that exists within Scottish football imo?
Why we aren’t allowed to play a proper B team in Scottish football, within the lower leagues is beyond myself?
A team that can only play at championship levels as a maximum. Wouldn’t be eligible for the Scottish and league cups, but would be, for that other lower league cup.
Would benefit Scottish football in general imo?
Yet these Diddy clubs are allowed a one vote system, that prevents the likes from happening?
Yet what do these Diddy clubs provide to Scottish football, and provide to the national game?
Nothing, but preventing the opportunity available to Scottish youngsters in the making?
But are opened handed to taking our youngsters on loan deals, which we possibly pay the costs involved imo?
Until such a farce is properly addressed, then with ourselves being the biggest club in Scottish football, will continue to struggle to develop the youngsters situation without a proper development programme in operation within Scottish football.
The biggest concern, is that the 8 homegrown rule within European football isn’t going to change anytime soon?
Yet the set up in Scottish football prevents teams from tackling such an issue.
Until the SFA properly address this issue, then preventing Scottish teams in European competition is a disgrace upon themselves as a governing entity. Is it any wonder that the coefficient is dropping like a stone, with Scottish teams struggling to fulfill the homegrown requirements that are needed in forming a 25man European squad?