Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor wants youth task force

MacGregor feels Scottish football has to concentrate on the "elite" of its young players

Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor has called for a "task force" to assess how effectively young Scottish players of quality are being produced.

Former Dundee United defender Maurice Malpas has suggested the Tangerines - who are bottom of the Premiership - are playing too many youngsters.

"There is something that we're not grasping in how we bring through young players," MacGregor told BBC Scotland.

"Maybe we're looking at too many and we need to concentrate on more elite."

MacGregor fears if the standard is not increased then it will continue to have negative knock-on effects.

"Three of the four home nations have qualified for Euro 2016 and teams with less population than ourselves seem to be putting the football right," said MacGregor.

"I think it's time for a task force to have an in-depth look at what has gone wrong over the last 20 years.

"As a Scot I'm naturally really disappointed with the national team not qualifying [for Euro 2016] and I'll be really disappointed if Celtic don't get through in the Europa League."

Ahead of Ross County's trip to play Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final, MacGregor feels the Dingwall men are still "a long way" from lifting a major domestic trophy.

Highland rivals County and Caley Thistle will meet in the League Cup

Caley Thistle's Scottish Cup triumph in 2015 was the first in their history while County, under then-manager Derek Adams, were runners-up to Dundee United in the same competition in 2010.

"We're a community club punching above our weight," said MacGregor.

"But credit must be given to both Highland clubs. I was delighted Inverness won the Scottish Cup. It put the Highlands on the map and got people to sit and think."

The Staggies have failed to beat Inverness in their last six attempts but are five places higher in the Scottish Premiership than John Hughes' side.

"Derbies are great events and it's nip and tuck; who wants it most on the night," added MacGregor.

"It's a cup game and there's a semi-final to look forward to. I think Caley Thistle are favourites as they've won most of the last games."