Rangers Colts In Irish League ?

Could the headline be a realistic possibility ?

Linfield v Rangers Colts, Cliftonville v Rangers Colts, Crusaders v Rangers Colts, Colraine v Rangers Colts, Ballymena v Rangers Colts.

The recent Challenge Cup games against Ballymena, Solihull Moors and Wrexham has ignited renewed discussion on Rangers forums on how players can progress from “Youth” to “First Team” players, and it has got me thinking.

There was a proposal to Scottish League One and Two clubs with regards “colt” teams playing in the lower leagues. Not one of the twenty clubs voted in favour of the proposal, and an alternative proposal for a Division Three, with Lowland League and Highland League clubs joining Colt teams received only the support of Albion Rovers. 

Berwick Rangers gave the proposal a “guarded welcome before consulting their supporters. A route also followed by Stenhousemuir and Elgin City, with Stenhousemuir confirming their decision as their supporter’s were “unanimously against it.”

The loudest voice against the proposal was Peterhead manager Jim McInally, here a few things he had to say.

‘Peterhead manager Jim McInally has revealed Celtic’s head of youth could not list a single benefit for League Two clubs if Old Firm colt teams join the league.’

‘McInally said: “In my opinion the experiment of under-20 sides in the Challenge Cup has failed miserably both in terms of crowds and results. That should be stopped and the idea of colt teams in the league should be kicked out as well. “It is not up to the likes of Peterhead to help develop players en masse for Celtic, Rangers or other clubs. That is their responsibility. It is not Peterhead’s issue that other clubs find themselves saturated with players and they are trying to find something meaningful to do with them.”’

With that proposal requiring a 75% vote it isn’t going to happen anytime soon. Could joining the Irish League structure be a viable alternative ? Obviously they would have to join at an agreed level, but in the fullness of time Rangers Colts, playing at Windsor, Solitude, The Oval, Seaview and The Showgrounds could be a reality and an attraction.

The top Irish League teams are certainly at a higher level than League Two and most of League One in Scotland. Rangers were perhaps a touch fortunate to beat a much changed Ballymena side in the Challenge Cup. Starting at a lower tier would be a similar standard to the Lowland and Highand Leagues that was proposed.

A similar proposal of playing all games away from home and  a guarantee of 250 tickets sales at £10 would be an attraction to the Irish League clubs. The current profile of the league would be increased by a massive scale and sponsorship opportunities would also provide increased income.

Should our friends across the city join the proposal, the prospect of Rangers Colts v Celtic Colts at Ballymena Showgrounds or Solitude would by a major attraction. And with these games being played at a different ground around the league each time, increasing exposure across the province. Maybe even in the a few years one of these games could be played at Brandywell.

Could it be possible ? It would obviously have to cross a lot of hurdles, the clubs, IFA, SFA and probably Uefa. But colt teams in the Scottish League is not going to happen anytime soon. So should be looked at as a method of increasing the competitiveness of games for our young players.