MARK Warburton, the Rangers manager, last night warned that Scotland will continue to struggle at international level until their youth teams face a higher standard of competition.
There have been calls for Gordon Strachan, the national manager, to be sacked following his side’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Slovakia in a Russia 2018 qualifier in Trnava on Tuesday evening.
The heavy loss left his team languishing in third bottom spot in Group F after three games and with little chance of progressing to the next World Cup finals.
Read more: Ray Houghton: Scotland should appoint a foreign manager if Gordon Strachan departs
However, Warburton believes that Strachan is suffering because the grassroots game in this country is failing to produce enough quality players.
The Englishman was one of the men responsible for setting up the now defunct NextGen Series – a hugely successful and innovative under-19 competition for clubs across Europe.
The former City of London trader believes Scotland’s aspiring professionals must compete at a far higher level in future if the national team is to flourish in future.
Read more: Ray Houghton: Scotland should appoint a foreign manager if Gordon Strachan departs
“I think Gordon is a proven manager,” he said. “He has won trophies, he has managed in the Premier League and he is a very good coach. So you have to look a bit deeper than just the manager. There are far bigger problems they have to look at and address.
“I keep being told Scotland aren’t qualifying for tournaments at any age group. There is a consistent cycle here. I look at the under-21s, 19s, 17s and to the 16s in the Victory Shield. Where are the players coming through?
“Look at France, look at England right now. They have players coming through the system. Scotland are not winning or qualifying for tournaments at under-21 or other youth levels. So you can’t not do well in those tournaments and then suddenly have a World Cup qualifying squad.
Read more: Ray Houghton: Scotland should appoint a foreign manager if Gordon Strachan departs
“It doesn’t work that way. It needs a revamp of the system. Whatever is happening at the moment, it’s not working. That’s the fact of it."
Warburton added: “This is not a dig at Scottish players, far from it. It’s about the development of players and the challenge they are given. You have to look at the challenges placed before them.
“If Scotland don’t qualify at the younger age groups, does it suddenly mean they are going to turn into world beaters later on? You have to give the younger players a better chance and better quality of challenge. I’m not sure they are being given the best opportunity at the moment.”
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