Heart of Midlothian can confirm it has entered a cooperation agreement with William Hill League Two side, The Spartans.
The move comes following the new Scottish FA initiative which allows players who are eligible for the Scotland National Team and between the ages of 16-21, to move between their parent club and cooperation club, in an attempt to increase playing time.
Centre Back and B Team captain Kenzi Nair, is the first player to benefit from this agreement, joining The Spartans at Ainslie Park. This move marks the beginning of what is hoped to be a fruitful collaboration between the two clubs.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website about the news, Technical Development Manager Shelley Kerr said:
“We’re delighted to have reached an agreement with The Spartans to enter a cooperation agreement. The system as a whole is an excellent approach that offers invaluable opportunities to our young players at a crucial stage in their development.
“The system is more flexible than the traditional loan structure and is something that is already in operation across Europe, to great success. It aligns with the club’s strategy, which centres around recruiting, developing and supporting talented, young players, with the ultimate goal of producing players who are capable of excelling at the highest level.
“The Spartans share our commitment to player development and embrace similar values in nurturing young talent. We already have a strong working relationship with the club, utilising their excellent facilities for our B Team fixtures in the Scottish Lowland League and I’m excited to see the potential benefits of this partnership unfold.”
The Spartans Sporting Director Mixu Paatelainen added:
“We are delighted to have a co-operation agreement with Heart of Midlothian FC. The opportunity to help young players develop in coming to us to play competitive matches is something that we are excited about.
“It also gives us a wonderful chance to add to our squad quality, ambitious youngsters who will make our squad stronger and more competitive. It is a win-win situation, which we are thankful for.”
