SFA and SPFL back Rangers’ withdrawal from Development League to play top English and European clubs

RANGERS are leaving Scottish football to take on the top clubs in England and Europe.

And it’s happening with the full backing of the SFA and the SPFL.

The Ibrox club have been given permission to withdraw their young players from the Development League next season.

They will instead send players, aged between 17 and 21, to play crack sides like Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

This one-season pilot is designed to show that rising stars can be markedly improved by pitting their wits against the best in the business.

Rangers’ Head of Academy, Craig Mulholland, believes the move will benefit the whole of Scottish football.

The nation is producing talented players at Under-17 level, but too many are losing their way and failing to make the full Scotland team.

Mulholland said: “When we met with the SPFL Board, a few clubs were represented and they all said they were delighted a Scottish club was leading the way with this initiative.

“If it works, then we have to look at Scotland as a nation in terms of the domestic programme, and how can we build it in for every club.

“We want to make it better for every club in Scotland, not just Rangers.”

Mulholland revealed that watching stars like Gareth Bale and Harry Kane emerge in England over the last few years helped to inspire a change of direction.

He went on: “It really hit home when we played Southampton down there, and our lads were fantastic.

“We drew 0-0 but we were way ahead of Southampton in the game.

“I spoke to my equivalent at St Mary’s, and I asked if it was his top team of youngsters. He said it was and they expected three or four of them to play in the first team.

“They were then playing Chelsea before flying off to play Borussia Dortmund.

“That just hit it home to me we had players who are as good as other countries.

“We need to be radical because we have to accept, as a country, we haven’t produced players of a level that we want.

“I think taking these players out of their comfort zone and challenging them against the Man. Uniteds and Man. Citys will be better.

“They might struggle early on, but after that they will kick on and compete with these teams.

“As a nation, we have an inferiority complex when we play some countries and we want to get rid of that.”

SFA Performance Director, Malky Mackay, has given the initiative his backing.

Mulholland added: “He was delighted with it, probably because we have something like 10 or 12 internationals at Under-16 to Under-18 level.

“If it’s as successful as we hope, Malky has the players at Scotland level playing best versus best every week, and it has to help not just Rangers, but also the national game.

“After the one year trial, we can look at the outcome and examine our game’s model after that.”

The Rangers kids will also play games against Scottish League One and League Two first teams.