Choice of clubs to form Lowland League made today

THE clubs which will compete in the inaugural Lowland League will be decided at a meeting today.

It was confirmed last week that the league that will form part of the base of Scottish football’s new pyramid system will be up and running for next season. The SFA’s annual general meeting gave the new division the green light on Tuesday, with the Scottish Football League’s decision to go ahead with reconstruction for next term ensuring the Lowland League proposals can be activated.

East of Scotland duo Preston Athletic and Spartans, and South of Scotland side Threave Rovers are guaranteed places because they already hold SFA national club licences and organisers, who are now keen to find a sponsor, are looking at an initial league of ten or 12 teams.

The process was also open to Junior football clubs but none were among the 16 applications received by Wednesday’s deadline. It is believed nine applicants are deemed to have the necessary infrastructure or commitment to achieving SFA licensing standards within the next two years, and the final decision on the others will be made today.

Spartans chairman Craig Graham has said confirmation the league will go ahead next season – with the winner expected to play-off against the Highland League champions for the chance to battle with the Third Division’s bottom club for promotion – has sparked excitement among clubs hoping to breathe new life into Scottish football.

Spartans have been keen to enter the SFL in recent times but Graham has insisted they would always prefer to move up the ranks due to on-field achievement rather than another club going out of business.

He said: “There is a great deal of excitement around our club. We are looking forward to playing new teams and we are anticipating a boost in our crowd numbers and, hopefully, a higher level of football.

“It will give all the clubs a chance to get their clubs as far up the league structure as they can and that, for Scottish football, is a big step forward.

“We’ve won our league three out of the last five seasons, which has been fantastic, but it will be even more exciting to know if we win it in future we will have the chance to then go and climb onto the next rung of the ladder. We have always been interested in applying for any space that came up in the SFL, but it’s always far better to get in on merit, rather than because of the demise of another club.

“Having seen Annan and the Highland clubs, we feel we’d be able to hold our own if we got promoted into the SPFL. All the teams entering the Lowland League would be entitled to feel the same way.”