Motherwell made "significant financial outlay" for Project Brave elite status
Motherwell say they needed a "significant financial outlay" to secure 'elite' status in the Scottish Football Association's new Project Brave youth system.
Last updated 15th Nov 2017
The Lanarkshire club have joined Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Hamilton in the top band.
Ayr, Dundee United, Inverness, Partick Thistle, Ross County, St Mirren, St Johnstone and the Forth Valley academy have been accepted into a second tier 'progressive' category, while Dundee, Morton, Queen's Park and a Fife academy have been awarded 'performance' status. Ross County and Morton's rankings are both subject to potential appeals.
Elite clubs will play each other three times and face progressive teams once. Progressive clubs will also play each other and performance sides.
The top-tier clubs will be handed more funding but some have had to spend six-figure sums to meet criteria for full-time academy staff including coaches, scouts, analysts and a medical professional.
It is believed that the vast majority of clubs were against the plans but the SFA believes it has taken a major step forward.
Motherwell's chief operating officer Alan Burrows said in a statement: "Despite our fairly public reservations, we had no other option or choice but to strive to be at the elite level, alongside the seven other clubs named.
"What it means for us in real terms is a significant financial outlay in terms of the staff and infrastructure at the academy, but that's part of our commitment to youth football and the production of good young players.
"It's our job as a club to ensure we can meet those obligations whilst still trying to be competitive as a club, both on and off the park."
SFA performance director Malky Mackay said: "From day one this has been a collaborative activity. The clubs have been engaged at every step, with daily dialogue to help with their applications.
"We have been heartened and inspired by so many of the positive things we have seen in regards to the development of young Scottish footballers and our aim is to assist clubs and encourage them to hit the highest possible standards.
"What I would like to stress is that the bandings are not fixed and they will be reassessed in June 2018. No door is closed to clubs outside of the Elite bracket with aspirations to move up."
Like Dundee United and St Mirren earlier this week, Partick Thistle have revealed they did not apply for elite status because they were happy with a youth system that has recently produced the likes of Stuart Bannigan and Liam Lindsay.
Academy director Gerry Britton said: "Given the trajectory along which our own academy is moving we didn't feel the additional resource required to meet the elite criteria would bring with it big enough proportionate benefits to deem it worthwhile.
"Since 2013, annual spending on our club's youth development plan has continued at the highest level in the club's history.
"Meeting the criteria required for inclusion at the elite level of Project Brave would have required a further substantial increase in the current financial outlay on behalf of the club.
"This increase would have taken the figure to one approaching 20 per cent of our annual turnover or around ÂŁ600,000 per annum.