Rangers have started gearing up for a huge season for the club’s Academy by handing new contracts to five promising youngsters ahead of the B team entering the Lowland League for the first time and a return to the UEFA Youth League.
Alex Lowry, Adam Devine, Connor Allan and Robbie Ure have all signed two-year extensions to their deals at Ibrox while Robbie Fraser has penned a one-year deal.
The young Gers will all have a role to play next season as they embark on their controversial Colts plan and field a team, along with Celtic, in the fifth tier of the Scottish league pyramid.
Academy chief Craig Mulholland was delighted to have them extend their stay with Rangers as they aim to push on and challenge for places in Steven Gerrard’s first-team squad.
Speaking to Rangers TV, Mulholland called the opportuinity to play in the Lowland League a “game-changer” for developing young players, saying: “We are delighted that five very bright young prospects have committed their futures to Rangers.
“All of the lads have quite different attributes and are at different stages in their individual journeys and we look forward to seeing them develop further in the coming years. They are all coming off the back of excellent seasons with our U18s, and in Adam’s case a first loan experience giving early exposure to men’s football.
“I know the lads are excited by the unique varied development opportunities we can now provide at Rangers with our B Team in competitive men’s football in the fifth tier of Scottish football being a real game-changer for talent development in Scotland.
“They also have the opportunity to play ‘best v best’ competition against some of the best young talent in Europe in the UEFA Youth League and, of course, further early exposure to first-team football in the Glasgow Cup and SPFL Challenge Cup.
The lads recognise, as is the culture at Rangers, that lots of hard work awaits as they strive to get better every single day, and they know they will be supported, challenged and pushed continually by some top, dedicated staff.
“Nathan Patterson’s journey and Leon King’s progress this season will be an inspiration to the boys, albeit they know that achieving a first-team opportunity at Rangers is not something that is simply gifted – it requires an obsessive attitude to achieve.
“Congratulations to all five of the lads who have committed to Rangers at an exciting time for the club and for all young players, we all wish them well.”
Huge opportunity for young Rangers stars to shine
As well as the prospect of playing regularly in the Lowland League, the return to the UEFA Youth League after it was postponed in 2020/21 will give the young Gers a fantastic chance to test themselves against some of the best talent in Academies across the continent.
If the first-team can make it to the Champions League group stage, it would be an even better platform with Rangers’ Youth League fixtures mirroring those of the first-team – should they get that far.
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