B Team withdraw from Lowland League

[esquire8 42,900]

 

[esquire8 42,900]

RANGERS can today announce the club will not be entering a B team in the Scottish Lowland Football League in season 2023/24 and beyond. This follows the Scottish FA’s decision to withdraw a vote on the proposed introduction of a ‘Conference League’ at tier five in the national football pyramid.

Firstly, Rangers would like to put on record our sincere thanks to the Lowland League for hosting a Rangers B team in their league for the past two seasons, and to the clubs for their fantastic hospitality and sporting challenges during that time. Rangers wishes each and every one of them the very best for the future.

Rangers has long been a strong advocate for the introduction of B Teams in the professional leagues of Scottish football, with a Conference League being an excellent step in that direction. Nations across Europe operate similar B Team systems with strong evidence of their development of players at club and national level.

Indeed, all 10 teams who contributed most to the development of players for last year’s World Cup have B teams operating in national senior leagues. The desire from all at Rangers to have a B Team in the professional leagues remains as strong as ever.

Our view on B Teams was also strongly supported by the Scottish FA and its CEO Ian Maxwell, who recognise the clear, beneficial impact B Teams have on top international sides. For 18–21 year-old footballers, our research and the evidence clearly shows the best path for their development is playing professional football in professional leagues. A Conference League would have been a positive move towards that.

As matters now stand, there is no suitable, governing body-led development structure for players between 18-21 in Scotland. The club has, however, enjoyed positive dialogue with a number of key stakeholders in recent days, including the Scottish FA, and looks forward to continuing such discussions to map the best possible direction for the development of the country’s top young players.

Alongside the club’s participation in the Lowland League in the last two seasons, a challenging ‘best v best’ games programme has provided our young players with matches against clubs from the highest levels of British and European competition.

This has proved a success, with 10 recent Academy players featuring in the Rangers first-team last season.

Matches with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool are among the fixtures to have featured and that programme will continue and indeed be enhanced alongside the club’s commitments in the SPFL Trust Trophy, City of Glasgow Cup and, hopefully, the UEFA Youth League, which provided an outstanding environment for our players last season. This will ensure our young players in that crucial 18-21 age group are given regular tests of a varied nature.

Rangers remains committed to finding the most innovative and challenging environments for our young players, not only for the benefit of our club, but also for the benefit of other clubs and the Scotland national team. We look forward to continuing our positive engagement with the Scottish FA and other bodies in the drive for young player development.

[The Specky Forum Organiser 64,997]

Good.

[McEwan's Lager 30,560]

Statement is a bit spiteful and the Conference League idea was arrogant and never getting off the ground.

Completely gone about this the wrong way.

[Blues Brother 1,115]

Think the problem is the lowland league doesn’t offer enough competition for the B team. It is a poor standard overall. Also it’s a road to nowhere.

 

[Nameless Ghoul 6,102]

5 minutes ago, Blues Brother said:

Think the problem is the lowland league doesn’t offer enough competition for the B team. It is a poor standard overall. Also it’s a road to nowhere.

 

We lost 7 and drew 5 so we obviously didn't find it too easy

[STEPPS BOY 74,032]

Just now, Nameless Ghoul said:

We lost 7 and drew 5 so we obviously didn't find it too easy

That says more about the quality of Our B team in all honesty.

 

[Bydo 3,227]

13 minutes ago, Blues Brother said:

Think the problem is the lowland league doesn’t offer enough competition for the B team. It is a poor standard overall. Also it’s a road to nowhere.

 

If that were the case we would have won it two seasons in a row, instead of coming second?

[left winger 14,270]

I presume we have something else lined up? Otherwise, it seems a bit stupid to massively reduce the number of games the B team will play.

[The Specky Forum Organiser 64,997]

7 minutes ago, Nameless Ghoul said:

We lost 7 and drew 5 so we obviously didn't find it too easy

It was essentially our c team with the exception of Rice and Lovelace because the level was that low.

[starofdavid 128]

24 minutes ago, left winger said:

I presume we have something else lined up? Otherwise, it seems a bit stupid to massively reduce the number of games the B team will play.

my thoughts as well...am assuming the b league is gonna carry on so ....who in the name of fuk do we play ???

[Madina 3,839]

I can see us going back to the reserve league. Would be beneficial really as we could play youths/1st team players not getting into matchday sqauds/injured players returning. I know quite a few teams in the reserve league this season played quite strong teams, Motherwell and Livi basically had 6 or 7 1st team players playing in some games 

[STEPPS BOY 74,032]

44 minutes ago, left winger said:

I presume we have something else lined up? Otherwise, it seems a bit stupid to massively reduce the number of games the B team will play.

Unless Devine Lowry and co are dropping down then i’m not sure we have the players to play high level B or Under 21 teams.

[Elfideldo 4,413]

Not the total reason for pulling out in my opinion.

As it stands and without significant recruitment Rangers wouldn't be competitive in the Lowland League. Rangers won't field a team that would finish mid table.

Of the 13 U19/U20 players eligible only two played regularly in the Lowland League last season plus Lovelace who will still be U18. Along with Leon King he should really be playing at a higher level.

 

[The Specky Forum Organiser 64,997]

1 minute ago, Elfideldo said:

Not the total reason for pulling out in my opinion.

As it stands and without significant recruitment Rangers wouldn't be competitive in the Lowland League. Rangers won't field a team that would finish mid table.

Of the 13 U19/U20 players eligible only two played regularly in the Lowland League last season plus Lovelace who will still be U18. Along with Leon King he should really be playing at a higher level.

 

Surely the club only released the likes of Weston etc with this decision in mind though?

[Elfideldo 4,413]

2 minutes ago, The Specky Non Liar - Sometimes said:

Surely the club only released the likes of Weston etc with this decision in mind though?

Weston would have be too old to play in the Lowland League for Rangers in the coming season.

[Blues Brother 1,115]

1 hour ago, Bydo said:

If that were the case we would have won it two seasons in a row, instead of coming second?

I’d say 3 maybe 4 at a push are decent…. The rest are very poor standard. It’s not enough for the young lads to truly be tested on a regular basis…. Coming 2nd in what was a poor B team season tells you all you need to know. 

[theblueoysterbar 19,668]

Should probably grudgingly talk to the manky mob about this and set up something different.

Could already be in progress right enough.

[stevemac 5,002]

Would it be logistically possible to discuss entering English youth leagues? I assume the rules & regs for entry may be different compared to that of senior team entering.

[The true baller 972]

[The Dude 20,026]

Had a feeling this might have been coming when Dumbarton announced we wouldn’t be playing there next season and we didn’t follow up with anything. Seems a bit of an overreaction to the Conference League not happening (it was never likely to either)

[esquire8 42,900]

I would guess the 18+ guys will wll be loaned out if they aren't involved with the 1st team.

Will have to be a restructure with staff too.

[plymouthranger 3,887]

Being brutally honest, we’ve seen no benefits from this. 
 

When the likes of Lowry who couldn’t get a game for us, drops down and scores a hat-trick, you know the standards awful. 
 

I’d only consider keeping a B side in that division if we have a proper set up for the u20/u18s players. If the B league allows us to play 15/16 year olds, then fine play the kids. It’ll be far more of a challenge for them before they progress to loans within the senior pyramid. 
 

Could we not partner with one of Dumbarton, Clyde, Patrick and loan then 4-5 players a season without them being a “feeder club”. Benefits them and less of a shock for the lads as they’ll have some familiar faces/geography and can train at Auchenhowie on off days if needed?