Airdrie United manager John Rankin thinks the Scottish Championship should be extended to help young players thrive. Next fixture: vs Alloa Athletic (away, 2026-11-07). The Diamonds were relegated from the 10-team Championship last season alongside fellow full-time outfit Ross County, making them two of five full-time outfits in the 10-team League One. However, Rankin feels expanding the country's second tier would improve the product and more allow opportunities for younger players to thrive amid the current system of co-operative loans that allows Premiership clubs to tie in with lower league sides to help youngsters play senior football more regularly. Rankin, who has managed Hamilton Accies and briefly Ayr United in the Championship, told Lanarkshire Live Sport: "I think the Championship is the most exciting league in Scotland so when we are talking about bringing through young players, you see a lot of these co-op loans to get the young boys out on loan. "But I think we need to extend one of our leagues [to give more opportunities]. I know the Premiership is never going to be extended because of the cash that is involved, but when I look at the Championship I think: 'Why not?' "Let's get a product where we can get more teams and more competition. "These guys at the top know exactly how it can be done and when I look at how the teams are now, I think it is time they extended it. "We talk about improving the Scottish game and bringing through young players and I think there is scope. When you look at how competitive the Championship is, I think it should be extended now because there are so many good teams who are willing to invest and trying to bring through young players. "We have five full-time teams in League One and it is a really competitive league, so that is like a second end of the Championship when you look at it. "League One is a great league and anybody can beat anybody. I look at teams like Montrose and they go into the cup and beat Dundee United at home. "You can't predict anything, so it is really competitive."