Plans for the development of a new National Performance Centre for Sport in Scotland will benefit from up to £25m of support from the Scottish Government's Young Scots Fund.

Shona Robison, minister for Commonwealth Games and sport, also confirmed that Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan will chair the project's steering group.

The steering group will be responsible for setting out criteria for bids from local authorities looking to locate the facility in their respective areas, as well as a timetable for completion.

A National Football Academy to be delivered over the next four years will be at the heart of the new venue, which will also cater for other sports under Scottish Government plans.

Robison said: "Football is Scotland's national game and, building on our record investment in the sport, we want to build the foundations of future success for our national sides.

"One of the key recommendations of the McLeish Review into Scottish football was the establishment of a new national football centre."

Regan added: "It is our intention to work in partnership with other sports to maximise the use and accessibility of existing facilities but also to ensure new ones will provide our most talented young sportsmen and women with the platform to fulfil their potential."

Work on a new national football centre for England in Staffordshire is due for completion later this year, while Wales is also in the process of developing a similar facility.

Details: www.scotland.gov.uk