The Scottish Premier League today announced the SPL Working Futures programme - an initiative designed to help young people out of unemployment.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and Jim Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, launched the programme, which is funded by the Department of Work & Pensions' Future Jobs Fund.

The partnership will see £2.8 million invested by the UK Government to create 432 six month job placements at SPL clubs for the long term unemployed.

Under the scheme each club has the opportunity to take on 36 employees as either community coaches or estates staff for six month placements between May 2010 and September 2011. Local Job Centres will handle all applications for these jobs at SPL clubs.

Neil Doncaster said: "These are testing economic times for everyone but this is a great example of how our clubs can play their part in society to help make things better. This scheme will give over 400 people the chance to get back into the work force and back on track.

"The jobs created will also help our clubs expand their community outreach programmes to help encourage more and more people to get involved in football and sport across the country.

Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy MP said: "This is about football clubs backing their supporters who are out of work. Scottish football and the UK government can be a winning team in getting people back into work.

"Football inspires many people and that's why this government has decided to fund hundreds of new jobs for the unemployed in Scottish football.

"The new workers will walk through the front doors of Scotland's most famous football stadiums to get to their work each day and could rub shoulders with their football idols. This is great news for hundreds of unemployed people and you don't need to be a football fan to get involved."