The Scottish Premier League will review the rule that requires clubs to include three Under-21s in their match squad.
And one alternative being considered would see a minimum number of home-grown players featured in the squad.
“As an alternative, some have suggested that a home-grown rule might be the better way to go,” chief executive Neil Doncaster blogged on the SPL website.
“Others want no restrictions on who can, and who cannot, make up the match-day squad.”
Young Scots David Clarkson, Brian Easton and Steven Fletcher and Scottish-born Republic of Ireland Under-21 international James McCarthy all left Scotland to join English clubs earlier this year and Doncaster believes Scottish football has to compensate for the amount of young players moving south.
He added: “It’s no surprise that players who get the chance to move to England should want to do so – a player’s career is a short one and with the money on offer south of the border, it is difficult to begrudge them their chance to secure their financial future.
“Given the huge losses and debts of many Championship clubs, it is not clear for how much longer clubs can continue to pay the stratospheric wages currently on offer even in England’s second and third tiers.
“But with this ongoing exodus of native talent, it is clear that Scottish football must continue to remain focused on youth development.
“The future, of necessity, must be home grown.”
The Under-21 rule has drawn criticism from Rangers manager Walter Smith and former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan and Doncaster admits it is an issue that divides opinion.
“At the last meeting of the SPL managers, this rule was discussed at length,” said Doncaster.
“There are no doubt huge differences of views between the clubs.
“Some clubs sometimes use the three U21s as the last of the seven subs – almost as shirt fillers. Some managers felt strongly that the undeserved kudos and cash that came with unmerited first-team involvement created a comfort zone for young players.
“Some players subsequently struggled to deal with the hard knocks of the real world when they were loaned out or transferred to clubs in the lower leagues.
“This is something that we will be reviewing in the weeks ahead.”
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