Rangers academy boss Craig Mulholland feels the Gers are on the right path with their emphasis on player development rather than results at youth level and pointed to Southampton as proof.

The Gers have implemented a 'One Club' philosophy which is aimed at making sure throughout all age groups players are playing in a similar style.




Rangers are also keen to loan out young players in order that they can gain regular first team experience in competitive football, rather than simply clocking up the miles on the youth circuit.

As a result their youth teams have been weakened, requiring a number from an age group below to step up, and results have suffered.
 


But Mulholland is sure the path Rangers are treading is the right one and pointed to Southampton following a similar route, with the emphasis being on producing players for first team level.

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The Saints have regularly developed young talents for their team, something which has caused them to be raided by a number of the Premier League's big boys in recent years.

Southampton's Under-21 side finished sixth in the Under-21 Premier League Division 1 this season, while their Under-18 team were second from bottom and won only one game all year. 

"We've just spent time down at Southampton. They finished second bottom of the English Under-18 Premier League. Nobody cares, nobody cares, because they are producing players for the first team", Mulholland said on Rangers TV.

"Their best ones are out on loan and the younger ones come up.

"Now with Rangers I think one of the things we have achieved this year hopefully is educating the staff, the players and the wider fan base to say that doesn't matter. What matters is producing players for Rangers."

However, Mulholland does accept that at Ibrox there are demands placed on Rangers teams to always win and breeding a winning mentality must be balanced with player development.

"And it's getting that balance because Rangers players must be winners and when they pull on that blue jersey they must realise that they must go on and win the game, that will never change.

"But it's the decisions that we take should be for the players' development as opposed to winning football matches", he added.