Celtic and Hearts B get Lowland League green light again as one club slams missed opportunity to regain 'sporting integrity'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Lowland League clubs have voted to leave the door open to Premiership B teams for another two seasons.Celtic and Hearts currently have their ‘colts’ competing in the fifth tier with Rangers having pulled out after two seasons last year.

B teams were first admitted into the league in 2021 on the understanding it was for one year only. But subsequent votes each season have allowed the clubs to re-enter the division, for a five-figure fee, although they are barred from winning promotion to SPFL League 2.A meeting on Monday evening saw clubs vote 8-7 in favour of admitting the B teams again for another two seasons with one club abstaining.

Albion Rovers were one of the seven clubs against continuing the arrangement and slammed the decision. A statement said: “This was a chance for the Lowland League to regain its sporting integrity within the pyramid, ensuring the fifth tier next year and beyond would be made up of clubs who have earned their places on merit and are all competing on a similar field and for the same purpose - to win promotion to the SPFL.“Instead we and our fellow member clubs are now once again at odds with the majority of our supporters who have no or little interest in watching their club play competitive fixtures against B teams.”A league statement read: “The Scottish Lowland Football League can confirm that the majority of our members have voted in favour of continuing with B Teams for at least the next two seasons.“Following a process which began in October, a democratic vote was held in line with our rules at a General Meeting tonight.

The board would like to thank all our members for their contributions to the discussions in recent weeks.”SFA plans for B sides to compete in a new fifth tier called the