The Scottish FA has announced JD as the title sponsor of the Performance School programme for the next three years.

The partnership was announced as 48 budding footballers were inducted into the four-year programme at Hampden Park on Monday and will see the seven schools renamed the Scottish FA JD Performance Schools.

JD will also become title sponsor for the Performance School trials, application process and football festivals, as well as a Scottish FA Official Performance Partner.

Scottish FA Performance Director Malky Mackay was joined by Motherwell defender Stephen McManus and 16-year-old Heart of Midlothian defender and Performance School graduate Harry Cochrane to welcome the 2017 cohort.

Malky Mackay, Scottish FA Performance Director, said: “This sponsorship deal represents great value for the Scottish FA Performance School programme and we are delighted to welcome an industry leader such as JD on board.

“We have just welcomed the sixth intake of players into the programme and this investment will support their development throughout the duration of their football education.

“We are already seeing strong signs that the schools are having a huge impact and this sponsorship agreement will further enable us to develop the next generation of Scottish internationalists.”

Stephen White, JD Group Marketing Director, said: “We are very excited to partner on such an important programme to help develop the next crop of Scotland internationals.

“The vision for the schools and the development of those in the programme is something we feel very passionately about.

“Having built a strong relationship with the Scottish FA over the last five years as retail partner we are proud to extend this partnership to supporting the Scottish FA JD Performance Schools.”

Image: scottishfa.co.uk