Scots soccer players to kick off training plan

Scottish professional footballers are being encouraged to take up education and training so that they can plan for when they give up playing or have to retire through injury.

The scheme comes under the Scottish Union Learning Fund, whose government money is to be doubled to £800,000 a year from next April. The fund, in its third year, aims to help trade unions stimulate the demand for lifelong learning in the workplace.

The bid from the Scottish Professional Footballers Association will create a network of learning advisers at Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League clubs across the country.