How does the new Scottish transfer system work?

Today is day one of a new transfer system designed to revolutionise the development of young Scottish footballers.

Premiership and Championship clubs are now able to enter into "cooperation agreements" with those lower in the pyramid to exchange under-21 players over and above the current loan system.

Once the transfer window opens on 16 June, at any one time, up to three young players can move more freely between the parent and lower league club.

So how has the new system, which also includes an amalgamation of under-18 and reserve football into an under-19 format, come about and how will it operate?

Where did the idea come from?

A proposal for the new "Cooperation System" was passed by senior clubs earlier this year following what the Scottish FA describes as an "extensive consultation" that followed publication of its "Transition Report" last year.

Players aged 16-21 are viewed as being in a "key transition phase" of their careers and the new agreements provide greater flexibility than the existing loan system.

Their aim is to increase the playing time for those eligible to represent Scotland at national level.

The system was devised by SFA chief football officer Andy Gould and head of men's elite strategy Chris Docherty after studying successful player development systems around the world.

Club cooperation systems already operate in a number of countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia.

Why has the system been introduced?

Some young players have previously been denied the chance to go out on loan because their clubs needed to fulfil homegrown matchday quotas while playing in European competitions.

Meanwhile, less affluent clubs who carry smaller squads may have been unwilling to risk sending their best young playes on loan in case of an injury crisis.

The new system will mean young players with limited playing opportunities at their parent club can stay registered to them while also playing at an appropriate lower level.

Who can enter agreements?

Premiership or Championship clubs can operate as the parent club and sign cooperation agreements with clubs in League 1, League 2, Highland League and Lowland League.

Championship clubs can also form agreements with a Premiership club.

However, a club cannot sign a cooperation agreement with a club in the same league as their first team or B team.

How will the system work?

The SPFL Trust Trophy, won by Livingston last season, also has a new format and new name - the KDM Evolution Cup

The parent club may sign a cooperation agreement with a different club at each level of the pyramid, but a parent club cannot have two cooperation clubs within the same division.

A maximum of three players can move freely between the parent club and lower league club.

They can therefore be recalled, given sufficient notice, should the parent club have injuries in the player's position.

The parent club pays the salary for the player and - unlike with loan deals - they maintain the player's registration.

What about loan signings?

The new system does not replace loan agreements, so clubs can use either or both systems for transferring players.

A maximum of five players can be shared between two clubs, with a maximum of three on loan or three on a cooperation agreement.

Clubs are under no obligation to use all three slots if they sign a cooperation agreement.

When can players move?

Players who are on the cooperation list are able to move freely between both clubs throughout the season.

Clubs are entitled to change the players on the cooperation list - but only during the summer and winter transfer windows, as well as the extended loan windows that follow the transfer windows.

What about B teams and reserves?

Celtic and Hearts were the only Premiership clubs to take up the option of playing their B teams in the Lowland League in the season just passed, but all 12 took part in the SPFL Trust Trophy (Challenge Cup).

Next season, the knockout competition for clubs below the Premiership will have a new format - and a new name and sponsor - designed to further help young players progress.

The SPFL announced last month that the KDM Evolution Cup will again include Premiership B teams, but to provide more guaranteed fixtures, they will be involved, along with League 1 and League 2 clubs, in a new, initial league-phase format inspired by Uefa's new European club competitions.

Meanwhile, the SPFL Reserve League and the under-18 level within the SFA's Club Academy Scotland will be replaced with "a hybrid under-19 category", with several overage players also allowed to participate.

Matches will take place on Monday instead of the current Friday, so clubs can expose the young players to the senior environment at the weekend and still include those who have had limited minutes on the Monday.

What is the SFA saying about it?

Gould said: "The overriding message from the Transition Report was that we haven't been producing enough opportunities for young players to play with and against senior players during that golden age of opportunity between 16 and 21 years of age.

"We felt that the Cooperation System would be complimentary to the existing framework, with more freedom of movement for players who are on the cusp of the first team with their parent club.

"It's rare in Scotland that we can get everyone united and on the same page and we are grateful to all the stakeholders who have worked together to make this happen. We are confident that we can see a significant increase in playing minutes for young players across the pyramid."

Docherty added: "Throughout our research during the creation of the Transition Report, it was also clear from speaking to clubs that the gap between both the current under-18 system and the SPFL Reserve League and the first team was far too big.

"This change to a new under-19 level will benefit late maturing players, while the move to Monday matches should stop players missing minutes to sit on a bench at first-team level."