Rangers are set to continue their pioneering approach to reserve league football by joining a cross-border competition with two Championship clubs.
The Ibrox side was the first to pull their side from participation in the reserve league as Rangers look to give their development side the best footballing preparation possible.
This was closely followed by Old Firm rivals Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs – who will now make up the other four sides alongside Huddersfield and Brentford in the six-team cross-border competition.
The competition kicks-off today (17/09/19) and will see all of the sides play each other both home and away with the top two sides contesting a final to be crowned champions.
Participating sides will be able to field up to three over 21 outfield players, as well as one overage goalkeeper.
The four Scottish Premiership clubs weren’t the only to withdraw from SPFL Reserve League participation in the summer either.
In fact, another four sides from across Scotland took the decision to pull their youngest talent from the league.
Rangers Head of Youth Development Craig Mullholland has been outspoken about the set-up.
“A lot of people have a romantic notion about what reserve football was years ago and if that was still reserve football then great,” said Mullholland, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“But you are not getting experienced players to come and teach young players. The variables in the competition was such that one week you were winning comfortably, the next week was a challenge. It is not right for developing our players.”
