A scheme to put cash seized from criminals back into the community was yesterday revealed as the new sponsor of the Scotland Under-21 side. CashBack for Communities takes over the sponsorship from drinks firm, Tennent’s, and it is hoped the high-profile role will encourage youngsters to take part in the project, which promotes a range of sports and cultural activities.

The sponsorship deal will see the scheme’s logo emblazoned on the side’s training kit, trackside advertising at home games and in match programmes. Players from the squad will also make themselves available for media events related to CashBack.

It also includes 300 free tickets for each under21 home game, which will be available in competitions. The arrangement will cost about £70,000, which is being provided by the Scottish Government, but organisers expect it to result in media exposure worth £165,000, giving the CashBack scheme an extra £95,000. Trackside advertising will go up for the team’s next game against Finland in a week.

Announcing the scheme, Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Secretary, said: “Scotland’s young international footballers are the kind of positive role models that our young people can look up to. This sponsorship arrangement gives us the opportunity to promote our CashBack for Communities scheme to a wider and younger audience and to encourage our youngsters to be all they can be.”

He hailed the deal a “great example” of government and industry working together, and thanked Tennent’s for giving up their sponsorship rights.

Billy Stark, the manager of the under21s, welcomed the announcement, saying: “The idea of taking cash back from criminals and using it to benefit the lives of Scotland’s young people is fantastic. This is exactly what the Scottish game needs, more young people involved at grassroots level, developing their footballing skills, their social skills, and their sense of community.” Stark named his squad for the Finland game, and said he believes Steven Fletcher’s promotion to the full Scotland squad can act as a spur and not an obstacle to his team’s European qualifying hopes. Fletcher, the Hibernian striker, is set to make his senior Scotland debut against Croatia next Wednesday, after the under21s complete their crucial Uefa Championship qualifier against Finland in Aberdeen.

But Stark believes his step up can serve as encouragement to the players he left behind that George Burley, the Scotland manager, is taking note of their progress.

“It’s not a blow,” Stark said. “In common with any team, you can lose players to injury or suspension, and in our case with Steven it’s through stepping up to the full team. Obviously, that’s the best scenario. We wish him well, we think he deserves it.

“It gives an opportunity for other players to come in but also it shows people that George is ready to bring players from the under21 squad if they have shown they are good enough, both with the under21s and playing consistently with their teams.”

Fletcher has formed a potent partnership with Ross McCormack, of Motherwell, and Steven Naismith, of Rangers, and Stark insists they will relish the increased responsibility amid the absence of Fletcher.

“Ross has shown that he would be in the running for player of the year, he has had such an impact,” Stark said. “He has made a good contribution to the under21 squad in the championship so far, and I’m sure the type that he is, he will take on the mantle in Steven’s absence as well.

“We have Steven Naismith as well, who is a big, big player for us, he is the captain. Those two players will be more important now that Steven has gone.”

The Pittodrie clash is crucial for Scotland’s qualification hopes as they seek to cut an eight-point deficit on the group leaders, Finland, who have played a game more.

Scotland Under-21s

Goalkeepers: J MacDonald (Heart of Midlothian), E McLean (Dundee United), C Smith (St Mirren). Defenders: A Considine (Aberdeen), S Cuthbert (Celtic), G Kenneth (Dundee United), K McCann (Hibernian), M Reynolds (Motherwell), T Scobbie (Falkirk), L Wallace (Heart of Midlothian). Midfield: S Arfield (Falkirk), R Conroy (Celtic), J Hamill (Kilmarnock), J McArthur (Hamilton Academical), K McDonald (Dundee), C Mulgrew (Wolverhampton Wanderers), L Stevenson (Hibernian). Forwards: R Campbell (Hibernian), G Dorrans (Livingston), C Elliot (Heart of Midlothian), R McCormack (Motherwell), S Naismith (Rangers).