STEWART REGAN is pleased the SFA can reinvest in the future of our game after Hampden chiefs handed out £1.7m between clubs across the country.
The payments have been made as the governing body prepares to post 'healthy' year-end financial figures thanks to sponsorship and commercial deals and the Auld Enemy match against England at Parkhead.
The cash will reward clubs for their involvement in the Club Academy Scotland and Club Licensing schemes.
The SFA invest £2.2m each year in the CAS programme, which oversees the development of our next crop of talented kids in academies across Scotland.
Clubs are given a star rating of between one and six as their youth structures are examined and the 30 teams involved are now set to benefit with a share of a £1m pot, an almost 50% increase in the funding made available by Hampden top brass.
There will also be an extra £500,000 dished out to members involved in the Club Licensing scheme, a 100% increase taking the distribution this year to £1m.
A £200,000 community fund will be also set up to assist the grassroots development programme, with the money accessed via the Non-Professional Game Board.
Chief executive Regan is confident the money will be put to good use for the future of our game.
He said: "The Scottish FA expects to record healthy year-end figures, largely due to important commercial sponsorship and television deals but also as a result of the recent Vauxhall International Challenge Match against England.
"It is important that profits are reinvested in the game, especially in the current financial climate.
"The additional funding has been allocated within Club Academy Scotland and Club Licensing, two areas of the game that might not get the recognition which they deserve externally but are intrinsic to our collective effort to improve standards on and off the pitch.
"I would like to thank the members involved in both programmes for their efforts this year and it is intended that the additional revenue will enable them to continue to build towards a more prosperous future."
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