Alloa Athletic have signed up 12 youth players on 2-year full-time deals for the first time in their history as part of a new Modern Apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with the Sports Academy of Scotland.

The move ushers in a new era for the Wasps, who are one of the three part-time sides in the SPFL Championship for next season, and they are hoping it will help reduce the gap between the youth sides and the first team as well as helping some of their current crop to become first team regulars.

The 12 players are; Scott Hynd, Lewis Wilson, Jamie Brown, Keirin Coleman, Sam Collumbine, Graham Forsyth, Michael Hardie, Callum Hutchison, Lee McLelland, Aidan Rush, Nathan Moore and Aarron Stubberfield.

The lucky dozen started their new apprenticeships earlier this month, and the Head of youth development at the club believes it is a massive step forward.

Head of Youth Graeme Liveston said, “We felt that after many of the younger players getting into the first team squad on various different occasions over the past few seasons, that we needed to give them something else to help take them to that next level in establishing themselves as first team regulars.

“We feel that the two-year apprenticeships does that for the boys. We certainly haven’t entered into this lightly but because we feel the quality is there and the standard is high enough.” One of the new apprentices, who has risen to prominence both with the first team at Alloa as well as with Scotland Schoolboys in the past two seasons, is talented teenage striker Scott Hynd.

Hynd famously became one of the youngest ever league scorers when he notched the winner against Arbroath in a 1-0 win at Gayfield Park at the end of the 2012/13 season aged just 15 and he remains one of the club’s brightest prospects.

The 16-year-old has just left Dunfermline High School this summer and admits he is thrilled to have the chance to now train at the club on a full time basis. Hynd said, “I am over the moon to sign on full time at the club. I have just left High School this summer so I delighted to be able to walk straight into something like this.

“Playing football is all I ever wanted to do all the way through school and so this is something exciting and new for me but it is a challenge I am looking forward to.

“I am definitely hoping that with the full time training I can force my way into the first team picture over the course of the next year.

“I have the memory of that day in Arbroath to motivate me but I can’t live off that goal forever so I will just have to go and do it again.” The players will be put through their paces on a daily basis at Recreation Park and first team boss Barry Smith will be heavily involved in their development throughout and he believes home-grown talent is vital to the club’s survival.

The Wasps gaffer added, “At Alloa, it is vital for the club to develop our own players and get them into the first team as soon as possible.

“Once they get there, it’s up to them to perform to a level that takes them further in the game. I’ve always been keen to introduce young players as soon as they’re ready and I will continue to do so.

“The fact that this year we can provide full time training to 12 players shows our commitment to youth development and giving youngsters the chance to progress with Alloa Athletic.”