Scottish Football Association to announce a new head of coaching later this month
Monday 20 February 2017 15:48, UK
Malky Mackay has confirmed the Scottish Football Association will appoint a new head of coaching before the end of the month.
The Scottish Football Association performance director's implementation of Project Brave, a series of recommendations aimed at improving the elite pathway for young players, is under way.
Under the proposals, the 29 current club academies will be reduced to a maximum of 16, the number of academy players will be reduced from 2,500 to 1,200, summer football for young players will be introduced and reserve football will be brought back.
Mackay said: "Someone is nearly ready to be appointed and that will be done in the next week or so.
"It is someone I feel that is able to talk to every club, who has experience, well versed in Scottish football.
"Between him, myself and the Scottish national coaches we are going to get out to the clubs week on week so that the SFA presence within football clubs becomes the norm.
"I have asked 12 clubs so far and I will be getting round as many clubs as I can in the near future but not one club has said no.
"There is no conflict of interest, it is about trying to educate clubs' coaches, look at the best young players that we will hopefully select for Scotland so there is no downside.
"The only downside is that it needs to be done and we need to do it pretty soon, it is not something that has been done for a while."
