Hearts sign James Wilson’s brothers as nine youngsters agree professional contracts.
Riccarton youth academy teenagers will compete in the new Scottish Under-19 league. Alfie and Stanley Wilson were members of Hearts’ Under-16 squad last season.
Alfie is a right-back who has previously played for the Under-18s, while Stanley is a central midfielder for Scotland’s Under-16s.
They join striker Connor Dow, defender Euan Glasgow, winger Jaedon Donker, defender/midfielder James Mulholland, defender/midfielder Liam Walker, and forwards Sam Dickov and Tommy North.
The Hearts youth academy director, Andy Webster, told the club website that coaching staff will now assist the teens in adjusting to full-time sports. “It’s a reward for their hard work up to this point,” he told me. “They can enjoy this moment and appreciate reaching the first rung of the ladder.
It’s a wonderful time to celebrate with the players and their families, and I congratulate everyone. The demands of a professional environment differ, but the coaching staff will be available to assist them along the way.
Shelley Kerr, the club’s technical development manager, said, “One of the most important things for us as a club is to have evidence of a strong pathway. Players and their families understand what that looks like.
Of course, individual performance is important, but Hearts must expose its young players to as many different environments as possible.
New SPFL and Scottish FA initiative helps clubs
Hearts want to ensure that their academy is one of the best in Scotland, so that the best young players can compete for first-team positions. The competition for senior positions has never been higher, with new signings arriving in each transfer window, but the club remains committed to giving Scottish youth a chance at the highest level.
The Scottish FA and Scottish Professional Football League have launched a new initiative that will help clubs develop young players more easily.
Co-operation agreements allow players aged 16 to 21 who are eligible to play for Scotland to switch between two clubs during a season.
Hearts have already taken advantage of the opportunity by signing a cooperation agreement with their Edinburgh neighbours Spartans, who have loaned teenage defender Kenzi Nair.
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