Youth farce as Rangers’ program comes under pressure

Rangers this morning are under a spot of pressure over the much-maligned youth policy after two kids, released by the club only weeks ago, raised major questions over the point and future of Auchenhowie’s Academy.

Matthew Shiels switched to Hamilton, relegated now to the Championship, and confirmed by his own testimony that kids cannot get through to Rangers’ senior squad for love nor money. Indeed, most lads from the Academy agree with him, and it raises deep concern about why Rangers are putting money into developing these lads only to release them every time.

But of even deeper concern is the Dapo Mebude farce. Freed as not good enough, the striker got himself into the PL with the Watford team, and there’s no evidence it’s just for their Academy. The 19 year old is a great Bosman for the PL new boys and it raises questions again.

Remember, this isn’t the first time a player has been apparently rejected from Rangers and instead linked to the PL – Lewis Ferguson, whose chances of becoming a Rangers player seem remote now, instead was bid by Watford which was rejected. Not good enough for Rangers but good enough for the best league in the world.

We have really deep concerns about the direction of the youth academy – it seems like talent there is simply not being utilitised, and the whole program is nothing but lip service and a waste of money.

Is there actually, being serious, any real tangible point in having an Academy at all? One kid confirms he had no chance getting to the seniors, another signs for a much better league.

Many might argue about Nathan Patterson, but that was a fluke and he wouldn’t have stood a chance without James Tavernier’s injury.

It’s troubling, it’s concerning and crucially it’s a waste of money at this point.

It sheds even more light on why Billy Gilmour quit too.

What do Rangers have against youth? Your guess is as good as ours, folks.