20 Apr 2026 15:04:03
Quick question for anyone ITK on these topics but with the good news Ashton Scally has signed a professional deal here, I've been wondering about youth recruitment more specifically youth recruitment between us and Academies down south.
Obviously we've lost some fine talents recently like Hutchinson, Goodbrand, and Condie. I understand the attraction down south (better money and development). However we've also poached some talented youngsters from down south Lawson, Lovelace, Nsio, Steven's. In the case of Nsio and Steven's I understand they were at lower level English academies but Lawson (who looks a very good talent) and Lovelace were quite highly rated at rather large clubs/academies. Especially Lawson for Brighton.
After that long winded preface, my question is how is it we can attract/poach some good youngsters from down south like Lawson but lose some of our talents down south? What specifically are we offering to the likes of a Lawson etc that they aren't seeing down south? Is it the promise of first team football? If so why would our other talent leave? Obviously I understand it's very much case by case but I'm just curious how we can lose good prospects to England and yet still poach talent ourselves?
Cheers.
20 Apr 2026 16:01:18
Brilliant question, Dio, that I've no idea of the answer. Possibly, some would prefer the chance to play over the money at this point, and vice versa, mate. Could we also be paying a little extra than where they came from, plus the better chance of first team?
20 Apr 2026 16:46:18
It's a far better structure for development south of the border, money apart. Dio, maybe Lawson thinks he'll get a quicker chance at first-team football.
Lovelace was one I couldn't understand though, he was getting some minutes for Millwall as a 15-year-old, maybe not a lot, but must have been well thought of.
Liked Stevens, I don't think he could settle.
20 Apr 2026 16:58:03
Luck?
20 Apr 2026 17:59:47
Simple really. In Scotland at 18, and you haven't made first team, you're either loaned out or released. In England there is a better structure up to Under 23. In Scotland our leagues are small, so you're either fighting for top or relegation, and clubs won't risk a youngster. In England there are many mid table teams, knowing they won't win the league or go down, and can risk putting younger players on. For me, the SFA and Sky TV are the biggest problems in Scottish football.
Just look over the border at how well England are doing as a nation and clubs in world football. How about we replicate that same structure here, but the SFA are wanting the paltry millions off Sky TV for 4 Old Firms a season. Ditch the Sky deal. Re think all leagues structure to bigger leagues, re think cup ties where all teams start round 1 and, if no TV deal, create a subscription for punters to pay to watch their team each week.
20 Apr 2026 19:13:11
Cheers for the responses boys!
Davie,
I understand the reason why our youngsters go south. My main question was more, how are we able to attract youngsters like Lovelace and Lawson from decent English academies, seeing as we have a fair few talents going the other way?