The SFA have confirmed the club placings for their Project Brave academy structure.
As expected, there is no Tayside or Fife representation at the Elite level, which consists of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Hamilton.
Dundee United and St Johnstone do, however, make it into the Progressive grouping along with Partick Thistle, Ross County, Inverness Caley Thistle, St Mirren, Ayr United and Forth Valley.
Dundee are at Performance level along with Greenock Morton, Fife and Queen’s Park.
Applicant clubs were graded according to a criteria-based system and an assessment of Measurable Performance Outcomes (MPOs).
According to the SFA, enhanced funding for achieving MPOs will encourage best practice, with the objective of Project Brave to harness the success of the strategic plan and ensure a more efficient pathway to first-team football.
Those not selected by the Club Academy Scotland assessment panel for the Elite top tier will still have access to a level of funding from the SFA to support the running and improvement of their academies.
SFA performance director Malky Mackay said: “This is a significant milestone for Project Brave.
“Club Academy Scotland is a fundamental part of the process and a lot of work has gone into developing the criteria used to assess the clubs.
“From day one this has been a collaborative activity.
“The clubs have been engaged at every step, with daily dialogue to help with their applications.
“We have been heartened and inspired by so many of the positive things we have seen in regards to the development of young Scottish footballers and our aim is to assist clubs and encourage them to hit the highest possible standards.
“What I would like to stress is that the bandings are not fixed and they will be reassessed in June 2018.
“No door is closed to clubs outside of the Elite bracket with aspirations to move up.
“As a result of the conversations we had with clubs, a new middle tier was created.
“The ‘Progressive’ category was designed to ensure ‘smaller’ but ambitious clubs with academies could find their natural place in the system, with scope to push on.
“For those in the top tier, we will continue to monitor their work in conjunction with our independent auditors.
“This is only one more step but we believe it’s a crucial one.”
