Robbie Ure made his debut for Rangers at the age of 18, only to be given a meagre 2 minutes of game time that season. He's now 22, excelling at IK Sirius in Sweden with 15 goals in 15 games, and Sevilla are reportedly interested in signing him for close to £8m.
The case of Ure highlights the issue of youth development in Scotland's top clubs. Rangers, like many of their Premiership counterparts, have a tendency to spend big on foreign players, often at the expense of giving young Scottish talent a chance to shine.
The Scottish FA is preparing for a "critically important" forum with the owners and CEOs of Scotland's senior clubs in St Andrews next month, billed as 'Made In Scotland?'. The presentation will be led by SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell and his chief football officer, Craig Mulholland, who will likely use the Ure case to plead with clubs to give young Scottish players more of a chance.
Celtic, Rangers, and other top clubs have a history of losing young talent to English football, with players like Ben Doak and Boyd Fraser being lured away by bigger clubs. The statistics are stark, with only 31% of players who played in the opening two rounds of the Premiership being Scottish, and only 5% of those being under 21.
The problem is not just about bigger clubs recruiting foreign players, but also about the lack of opportunities for young Scottish players. Dundee United, for example, used just one Scottish player in their two games so far, while Hearts have mentioned Boyd Fraser and Keir McMeekin as examples of players who have left for England.
The SFA's task will be to persuade clubs to look at their pathways and give young Scottish players more of a chance to show what they've got. This will be a tough sell, as club owners and CEOs are primarily motivated by the interests of their own club, rather than the national interest.
Maxwell and Mulholland will need to appeal to the self-interest of these owners, highlighting the benefits of giving young Scottish players a chance to develop and shine. They will also need to address the nuances of the issue, including the fact that some clubs have invested heavily in developing their own players, while others have been more willing to recruit from abroad.
The outcome of the forum will be closely watched, particularly in the wake of the Ure case. If the SFA can persuade clubs to give youth a chance, it could have a significant impact on the development of Scottish football in the years to come.
The Scottish FA's 'Made In Scotland?' forum is set to take place in St Andrews next month, with a packed agenda and high stakes. Will the SFA be able to persuade clubs to give young Scottish players a chance, or will the interests of the clubs prevail?
Source: Yahoo Sports