Hearts manager Robbie Neilson has confirmed the Jambos could look at fielding a B team in the lower tiers of the league pyramid if the programme that saw Rangers and Celtic have a Colt team in the Lowland League this season.
The Jambos have a host of young players out on loan and the Hearts boss admits his side are “desperate” for a return of the Reserve League to allow them to keep them at Tynecastle.
If a Reserve League doesn’t happen – and it likely won’t – Neilson wants to follow the path set by the Old Firm and get competitive experience in the lower leagues.
“The players coming in need to be at a higher level,” Neilson said [EEN]. “We have young boys on loan playing regularly in League One and League Two this year but we’d like them to be playing regularly in the Championship. Then they are ready to make that step up to the Premiership.
“One of the biggest issues is that there is no reserve league. It’s something we’re speaking about trying to rectify. There are discussions coming up about a reserve league [for next season]. I know some teams want it and some don’t. We are desperate for it.
“If that doesn’t happen, then we will probably look at trying to get some sort of B team going. The jump from under-18s to first team is just too big. There is talk of maybe introducing a couple of more B team slots. The B teams were only meant to be for a year so that would need to be continued if it’s going to happen.”
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