As the final remaining Club Academy Scotland (CAS) leagues got back underway at the weekend, the Scottish FA can confirm that the clubs have been streamed into the following categories, following the conclusion of the auditing process.
Elite Level – Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Rangers, St Mirren
Performance (Progressive) Level and Performance Level – Ayr United, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Falkirk, Greenock Morton, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Livingston, Partick Thistle, Ross County, St Johnstone
Advanced Youth Level – Airdrieonians, Alloa Athletic, Bonnyrigg Rose, Edinburgh City, Elgin City, Kelty Hearts, Montrose, Queen of the South, Queen’s Park
Kelty Hearts have joined the CAS set-up for the 2025/2026 season, with Queen’s Park moving from Elite to Advanced Youth Level and Falkirk moving from Advanced Youth to Performance Level.
Following the conclusion of the audit process, it has been confirmed that Hamilton Academical will not be part of the CAS programme or the 2025/2026 Scottish FA Youth Cup, with the Scottish FA releasing the following statement: “The Scottish FA can confirm that the decision has been taken by the Licencing Committee to refuse Hamilton Academical’s Club Academy Scotland (CAS) an award for 2025. The Professional Game Board (PGB) therefore determined on Tuesday, 12 August that the club be removed from the CAS programme with immediate effect.
“Despite being provided with numerous opportunities to do so, the club was unable to provide assurances to the Licencing Committee in eight different key areas, including facilities, coaching qualifications and Child Wellbeing and Protection standards.
“All players in the Hamilton Academical CAS programme have now had their registrations cancelled by the Scottish FA, allowing those players to leave the club should they wish. The club will not retain any entitlement to training compensation in respect of any of those players. It has also been decided that, for season 2025/26, other CAS clubs can register these former Hamilton CAS players, notwithstanding that they may have already registered the maximum number of players permitted under the CAS Regulations.
“These steps have been taken to facilitate opportunities for players affected by this situation, but parents and carers of any such player are invited to contact the Scottish FA, should they require any assistance with finding another club for their child to play at.
“The Scottish FA’s Wellbeing and Protection team is also committed to supporting the young players and their families who may have been affected by this decision.”
A guide for young people and their parents / carers about registrations within the CAS programme is available here.