We’re delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with William Hill Premiership club St Mirren as part of the new Cooperation System recently launched by the Scottish Football Association.
The Cooperation System was passed by clubs earlier this year following the findings of the Scottish FA’s Transition Report published in 2024 [PDF] which showed that there hadn’t been enough opportunities for younger players between the age of 16 and 21 to play senior football.
The system allows the club to place a maximum of three players, who are eligible to play for the Scotland National Team and are under the age of 21, on a cooperation list. These players can then move freely between St Mirren, Dumbarton and Clydebank, recently promoted to the Lowland League, who are also involved in the agreement.
Boss Stevie Farrell said: “As a management team we have shown that we’re not frightened to give young players an opportunity. And that will continue this season.
“I met with Keith Lasley and Allan McManus on several occasions and I think this is the perfect fit for both clubs.
“We have had a close working relationship with St Mirren over recent seasons which has allowed us to bring some talented players to the club, and we are now going one step further by formalising this.
“We have brought three talented players to the club this summer under the partnership and I am looking forward to working with St Mirren, giving younger talent, along with our own youth players, the opportunity to take their first steps in the senior game.”
As part of the cooperation agreement, Carrick McEvoy, Thomas Falconer and Theo McCormick have moved to The Marbill Coaches Stadium on loan for their first taste of SPFL football.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said: “I firmly believe in the loan system to develop our young players and something that hindered that previously was not being able to bring them back at certain stages or leaving yourselves short in numbers.
“With the cooperation agreement we are able to get them into men’s football and develop under other coaches. Hopefully we can also help the coaches and the clubs they are going to. It will be a great benefit for both parties.
“All in all, I believe it’s a brilliant way to develop young players in Scotland and doesn’t compromise any young players coming back into the first-team.”
Saints’ Academy Director, Allan McManus added: “We’re looking to build a strategy that’s going to help our young players get more experiences towards first-team football.
“The earlier we get young players exposed to first-team football, the better opportunities they’ll have to go further in the game.
“We feel that any of our players that will go will be looked after and treated the right way. Hopefully it’s the start of a positive relationship that will last several years and we’re excited that our young ones are going out there.
“We’re all excited about the new cooperation agreements and the flexibility within them. I think it really helps the young players, they have the opportunity to be playing and learning. If they are thriving, then the manager can bring them back at any time and utilise them in the squad.
“Longer-term we want to build more of these agreements and we believe it’s going to make a significant difference in the development of our young players.”
St Mirren Chief Operating Officer Keith Lasley added: “As per the Scottish FA’s Transition Report, it has been shown, as a country, that we need to try and produce more young footballers for the national team.
“We look forward to working with both Dumbarton and Clydebank. A big part of our strategy is working locally and we see this as a big development.”