The Hampden club's long term backer is pulling his funding and the club's talent factory is to be closed down
19:12, 03 Apr 2025
Willie Haughey
The Queen’s Park academy that helped establish the likes of Scotland stars Andy Robertson and Lawrence Shankland is set to be cruelly axed.
Record Sport broke the bombshell news that long-term backer Lord Willie Haughey was set to pull his funding from the struggling Championship club. Haughey is prepared to fund the team this season and for another one after that.
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And it's understood that Tthe Queen’s Park academy which is viewed as one of the most successful in the country is set to axed.
The Spiders have also recently sold keeper Callan McKenna to Bournemouth last year.
Club officials don’t have the finances to run the academy going forward and are set to pull the plug.
The academy polished Robertson after he was freed by Celtic, brought through Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland and Motherwell skipper Paul McGinn and former Hoops star Aiden McGeady.
All under-age games tonight were cancelled and club president Graeme Shields invited all parents and carers to a meeting at Hampden tonight.
Queens Park's Andy Robertson Andy and Lawrence Shankland
Andy Robertson and Lawrence Shankland in action for Queen's Park
As it stands the majority of Queen’s players will have nowhere to play, despite some having a real value and being chased by other clubs. It also remains to be seen what happens to their Lochinch training ground.
It will see a combination of more than 200 players and coaches without slots next season.
It means other clubs could now possibly come in and tap up their talent with Queen’s unable to continue any progression plans.
Haughey decided to end his involvement with Queen’s Park because he was frustrated by a number of moves being blocked at membership level.
He put millions into the club every season and turned them from amateurs and led them from League Two to the verge of the Scottish Championship. Haughey also put millions in to establish the academy.
It has also been suggested that all of Queen's Park's out-of-contract first-team players won't get their deals renewed.
It is a blow to Queen’s Park who lost 5-0 to Airdrie on Wednesday night and aren’t clear of Championship relegation danger
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