OPINION
Rangers might have a proud tradition of developing young talents through their youth system but there have not been too many success stories to shout about in recent years.
Looking at the last squad named by Steven Gerrard – the 7-1 dismantling of Motherwell before the international break – there were five of the 18 who had spent some time in the ranks of the youth team at Ibrox – albeit for varying lengths of time.
Andy Halliday left early on before returning, Allan McGregor and Ross McCrorie came all the way through and Glenn Middleton and Serge Atakayi were recruited from elsewhere to bolster the teams below the senior side but have made their way into the reckoning under Gerrard.
It sound as though director of football Mark Allen is not totally satisfied with how things are going and is looking to improve on the transition from youth team to the senior outfit, detailing the club’s plans of a “production line” at Ibrox.
He told Rangers Youth Development Co’s official Twitter: “I don’t think you can set specific targets each year for numbers (coming through). Each year will bring different players forward.
“My goal remains to see academy players as part of our first team squad.
“It is vitally important that we create this production line and every effort is being made to make this as many as possible.”
Firstly, thanks very much for the good wishes.
I don’t think you can set specific targets each year for numbers. Each year will bring different players forward.
— Rangers Youth DC (@rfc_rydc) November 21, 2018
My goal remains to see academy players as part of our first team squad.
It is vitally important that we create this production line and every effort is being made to make this as many as possible.
— Rangers Youth DC (@rfc_rydc) November 21, 2018
If it is so “vitally important”, then what on earth were the club playing at when it came to former enforcer David Bates?
Another who joined the Rangers youth ranks from elsewhere, Bates was one of the standout young talents at Ibrox as he went on to make 28 appearances before sealing a shock exit to Hamburg SV on a free transfer in the summer.
He was quite clearly destined to be the next big thing off that “production line” for the Light Blues and not tying him down was a mistake that they will live to regret.
Rangers have already shot themselves in the foot over Allen’s plans, so is youth progress as important as the chief says it is, or are there other priorities which took up the Gers’ focus, allowing such a blunder to take place?