The Scottish FA has announced the launch of a new Cooperation System that aims to increase opportunities for younger players.
Set to come into effect ahead of the new 2025/26 season, the system will allow teams to put a maximum of three players on a 'Cooperation List'. They will be able to move freely between their parent club and the club with which their parent club has a Cooperation Agreement.
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The same system currently operates in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia.
Teams in the Premiership and Championship can sign Cooperation Agreements with clubs further down the pyramid. Championship clubs are also able to be both a parent club to a club in a lower division, and a recipient club to a Premiership club.
Only players who are eligible to play for the Scotland National Team and who are under the age of 21 would be able to participate on a ‘Cooperation List'.
For the upcoming 2025/2026 Season, a player designated as Under-21 would refer to a player born in 2005 or before.
While players who are on the Cooperation List can move freely between both clubs throughout the season, if they have not played at least 15 minutes in at least five matches for the Cooperation club before March 31, they cannot play after that date, in order to ensure the Cooperation club doesn't get an unfair advantage late in the season.
Champions Celtic are in discussions with second-tier outfit Queen's Park over a Cooperation Agreement.
On the launch of the new system, the SFA's chief football officer, Andy Gould, said: "It’s rare in Scotland that we can get everyone united and on the same page and we are grateful to all the stakeholders who have worked together to make this happen.
"We are confident that we can see a significant increase in playing minutes for young players across the pyramid."
