Bristol Rovers are returning to running their own scholarship system next season in a major revamp of their youth set-up.

The Pirates have used Filton College to groom their youngsters for the past five years.

But the 16-18 age group will return "in house" from next season after pressure from the Football League.

The League – which gives annual grant aid of around £150,000 towards the club's youth scheme – was understood to be unhappy with the fact that staff running the youth programme were employed by the college rather than the football club.

It has been tightening up on the way clubs run their youth schemes and the switch will bring Rovers back within their guidelines.

A club statement confirmed: "The move aims to bring the club back into line with Football League rules which ask for a greater investment in youth football.

"It will bring the youth set up closer to the first team but with its own Football Club-employed staff."

Rovers chairman Nick Higgs said: "We have been looking for some time at the youth set up and after a series of discussions with the Football League we have decided to return to a Scholarship scheme that will bring the youth set-up closer to the first team.

"We see this as a positive step to help nurture the local youth, and will help move our youngsters further forward."

Rovers have offered professional contracts to 17 of the youngsters who emerged through Filton in recent years, including current first-team squad members Chris Lines, Sean Rigg and Mike Green.

Higgs added: "We have been delighted with the work that we have done with Filton College, and last week's FA Youth Cup performance against Liverpool is testament to what we have achieved with them. It has been a great experience.

"However, to comply with the latest Football League guidelines we have to put this new set-up into place.

"Our youth teams have done really well, but I still think we can do better – and need to do better to compete with other clubs in the South West and the rest of the country."

It is thought the Under-18s are likely to use training facilities at the South Bristol Sports Centre in Knowle, which are also destined for use by the first-team squad when drainage problems at the site are resolved.

Rovers say they are in discussions to continue to use the Filton College site for the 9-16 age groups at their Centre of Excellence.

Director of Football Lennie Lawrence said: "At all the clubs I have served at as manager, I have always taken a great interest in the youth set up and have given many young players their debut at all levels.

"I should like to thank Filton College for their tremendous help over the last five years in progressing our youth set up."

A statement from Filton College said the move "was forced upon" Rovers so they could secure Football League funding and that the college would now look to work with other clubs.

Filton's director of sports academies Simon Panes said: "For a few years now we have been courted by other professional clubs to work with fringe and released players.

"Our agreement with Rovers was exclusive so we could not take up these opportunities, but we will now exploit the true potential of our set-up."