The Scottish Premier League has defended plans to increase the compensation payments to clubs who lose young players they have developed.
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain accused SPL rivals of creating a “professional transfer market for children” after they voted by 10-2 in favour of an increase.
However, the SPL insist the planned increase is designed to benefit clubs who invest their time and money into youth development and then have the player leave to join bigger clubs.
“Development contribution is designed to ensure that those clubs who spend huge amounts of effort, time and money in developing and training a young player receive a contribution towards this investment when another, often financially stronger, club wants to take that young player from them,” said an SPL spokesman.
“In the absence of a robust system, far fewer clubs in Scotland would invest in youth development.”
The compensation formula was originally introduced four years ago when payments were set at £3,000 a year for 12, 13 and 14-year-olds; £6,000 for 15-year-olds; and £9,000 for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Two months ago, clubs reportedly voted to up those payments to £5,000 a year for 11 to 14-year-olds; and £10,000 a year for 15 to 17-year-olds.
Bain believes this goes too far, saying: “We are now seeing that the system is working against the rights of children and their parents, and that cannot be the right direction for Scottish football.
“We support the principle of compensating clubs for development costs, but what is now happening is the creation of a professional transfer market for children at a very young age.
“We made strong objections to the SPL regarding their latest decision to increase development contribution compensation payments.
“No doubt other clubs believe that we are acting solely out of self-interest but that is not our motivation.
“We are thinking about the rights of kids and also the development of young Scottish talent, which is crucial for the future of the game in Scotland.”
The new bands have still to be ratified by the Scottish Football Association.
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