The ever revolving door of Celtic’s Academy

The ever revolving door of Celtic’s Academy…

Celtic B kicked off the new Lowland league season (Scottish fifth tier) with a 1-0 victory over Cumbernauld Colts last Friday evening.

It is now three years since the restructuring of the Scottish football pyramid took place to allow Celtic B and theRangers B enter into the Lowland League, and it is safe to say it has been a resounding failure.

Celtic aimed to use this initiative to give valuable senior minutes to their academy talent in the hope of bridging the gap between the first team and youth teams, and giving their best talent more of a chance of making the first team grade at the club.

However, this has not transpired.

Celtic B did finish joint second in their inaugural season in Scotland’s fifth tier, but questions remained around the standard of football of the Lowland League heading into last season.

There was somewhat of a change of approach from those at the very top of the club with regards to the B team last year, with Celtic establishing an affiliate link with Austrian Second Division side Admira Wacker Modlin.

Matthew Anderson and Toby Oluwayemi headed to the Austrian side on loan last summer, with both players having varying degrees of success. Oluwayemi struggled with injury while Matthew Anderson endured a breakout season, even finishing in the Austrian Second Division team of the season.

The club’s ability to send players on loan to the Austrian side, where they would play at a higher level of football than the Lowland League, is certainly a positive and a tool that should be used by the club frequently now the link is in place.

However, questions remain surrounding the B team and what it’s purpose is now the club seemed to have swayed away from keeping its best talent operating in Scotland’s fifth tier.

Unlike in Portugal and Netherlands where the top clubs such as Benfica and Ajax have B team’s in their respective countries’ second tiers, this is not possible for Celtic B as they are ineligible for promotion or relegation.

Darren O’Dea was appointed Professional Player Pathway Manager in April with the aim of providing a clearer pathway to the first team for the club’s academy talent.

However, actions speak louder than words.

Rocco Vata became the latest of a long line of talented Celtic academy players to depart the club earlier this month, with Daniel Kelly looking like he will follow in Vata’s footsteps after repeatedly knocking back contract offers as he heads into the final five months of his contract.

Celtic can talk of providing “a pathway into the first team” all they want, but the reality is the club has very little evidence in doing so in recent history. The club’s reputation as one who gives opportunities to its own has no doubt took a significant hit.

Moving forward, utilising loans and the affiliate link with Admira Wacker Modlin seems the most beneficial way forward for developing the young talent at the club.

But given the must-win every game attitude and level of conservatism held by many involved in the club towards the club’s young players, it is difficult to see Celtic’s recent track record of bringing academy players through improving any time soon.

James French