EXCLUSIVE: Lowland League make sensational U-turn to allow Celtic, Hearts and Rangers to enter B teams into the division after competition’s chairman delivered decisive ‘yes’ vote following ultimatum from SPFL clubs
- Lowland League made a U-turn regarding Celtic, Hearts and Rangers B teams
- A vote had initially rejected allowing all three to join the division as guest clubs
- The Lowland League sides wanted to accept just two of the three – and reject one
- They back tracked when faced with an ultimatum to admit all three or none at all
- After an 8-8 split decision it was league chairman Thomas Brown who voted ‘yes’
Plans to admit Celtic, Hearts and Rangers B teams to a divided Lowland League were waved through after a casting vote by the league chairman.
Asked to change their rules to accommodate all three in a 19-team league, SLFL sides recently voted against the proposal by a margin of 13 to three.
The preference of the Lowland League sides was to accept two of the three – and reject one.
Celtic and Rangers paid £25,000 to field B teams in last year’s Lowland League tournament
Faced with an ultimatum to either admit all three or none at all, however, teams from the fifth tier held another vote on Monday night.
And, after an 8-8 split, league chairman Thomas Brown voted ‘yes’ in return for the promise of a review of the pyramid structure by the SFA and SPFL.
Celtic, Hearts and Rangers are willing to pay £40k each for entry, with the £120k split evenly between the other 16 clubs.
Rejecting accusations of money-grabbing, however, a club source told Sportsmail that the target for the the Lowland League teams is the abolition of the promotion play-off against the bottom team from League Two – team 42 – in return for accepting the three B teams. Any proposal along those lines would spark ferocious opposition from the current teams in League Two.
Scottish giants, Hearts, also decided they wanted to enter a B team into the Lowland League
In a statement, however, the SFA confirmed plans for the pyramid working group to review the current pyramid structure in order to find a long-term pathway for players between the ages of 17 and 21.
With no reserve league in operation in Scotland, concern is growing over the future of academy players.
And, while Celtic, Hearts and Rangers fielding B teams in the Lowland League is a short-term solution, the pyramid working group will be asked to come up with a more permanent plan ahead of season 2023/24.
Forced to make the casting vote after a split on the issue amongst member clubs Lowland League chairman Thomas Brown said: ‘We were always open to the inclusion of guest clubs for a further season given the successful player development outcomes from last year’s pilot.
After an 8-8 split decision, it was the league chairman Thomas Brown who voted ‘yes’
‘We want to be a modern and progressive league and we are excited to be playing our part in the eco system that develops Scotland’s talent.
‘Importantly, we now look forward to working with the Scottish FA, the SPFL and our friends in the pyramid to create some new solutions to some existing challenges which will provide a bright future at all levels of our game.’
SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell made a personal appeal to Lowland League clubs to accept the Premiership colts sides and said: ‘We are delighted that the Lowland League clubs have approved the participation of three guest clubs for the forthcoming season. The Scottish FA supports the principle of elite player development and particularly providing opportunities for talented players in the key transition years from 17 to 21.
‘The Scottish FA will oversee a discussion in parallel to propose and implement a long-term plan with the objectives of optimising the pyramid, which has been a resounding success in Scottish football, harnessing the player pathway and accelerating the development of the country’s most talented young players through the national youth teams to the full international stage.’
League sources favour a speedy review by the pyramid working group in order to propose change to promotion and relegation rules before vested interests kick in midway through a season.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: ‘It is hugely encouraging to see such a joined-up and collaborative approach being adopted in such a vital area of our game.
‘There are few more exciting things in football than watching the development of home-grown talent and it’s extremely encouraging that the Lowland League has agreed to assist our clubs on a temporary basis for Season 2022/23.
‘The SPFL will commit our energies to a process that will explore options and, hopefully, allow us to move forward various aspects of our game for the benefit of our 42 member clubs and Scottish football as a whole.’
Source: Daily Mail Online