Last night’s announcement that Celtic will have a Colts team playing in the Lowland League next season didn’t go down well with fans outside of the SPFL.
Clubs in the Lowland League rarely attract paying crowds of more than 100 but that didn’t stop fans from taking to Twitter with a variety of concerns.
The Lowland League has emerged in the last decade as a vehicle for ambitious clubs outside of the Highlands to find a route through to the senior ranks with Edinburgh City their first success story. The East of Scotland, South of Scotland and West of Scotland leagues feed into the Lowland League.
Kelty Hearts are hoping to see off Brechin City to make it into SPFL League Two with the three leagues below the Lowland League angered by their diversion into accepting Celtic and their Ibrox business partners for one season. Not many fans think that the idea will be abandoned after 12 months.
The full details of the new set up have yet to emerge but promotion won’t be an option for either Colt team. It seems like all games will be played away from home with the squads restricted to u-20 squads.
The Scottish Lowland Football League can confirm that member clubs have voted in favour of a proposal allowing Rangers and Celtic ‘B’ teams to take part in next season’s competition – for one season only.
Full story??
? https://t.co/gQSYTkHfqV pic.twitter.com/8S3471TQhE— Scottish Lowland League ??????? (@OfficialSLFL) May 10, 2021
For one season only, aye right! As if they’re going to reach the end of the season and go “cheers lads, that was fun, cheerio”
I can appreciate the possible financial benefit but at what “cost” to the integrity of the game.
— Ross Wishart (@RossWishart) May 11, 2021
Selling their soul ?
— Kev Taylor (@kevt2706) May 11, 2021
What an utter kick in the teeth for all clubs playing in tier 6, and the players, management & committees working their arses off to progress through the pyramid, the arrogance is shameful…
— Kevan McArthur (@KMC19651) May 10, 2021
I’m a regular lowland league attender who also loves and sees the Jambos too. I’m done with the league now. EOS/WOS and Tynecastle for me!
— Colly Boy (@eurobengal) May 11, 2021
After decades of fighting for a fair and just pyramid system, which rewarded successful clubs on the pitch with promotion and progression, it’s shelved in a handful of seasons, and back to clubs being bypassed in the boardroom. Shameful.
— Gez Campbell-Smith GCE (ungraded) (@knowledgeisall) May 10, 2021
Because they think saying this will make it easier to get it past the fans, like we zip up the back.
— Gordon Struth (@gordon_struth) May 10, 2021
You go down a few tiers in Spain and Germany and no-one cares about their local football club. Across the UK fans of non-league clubs don’t want them turned into training opposition for the youth of two very specific clubs. It’s not even based on merit FFS.
— Gordon Struth (@gordon_struth) May 10, 2021
It is not for the SLFL to try &
help resolve the ills of the @spfl,
the Lowland Leagues duty is to continue to align themselves to the principles set out in the 4 League agreement. Clubs in trying times have invested heavily to attain their licenses in advance of promotion.— Gordon Ronney (@ladeside5277) May 10, 2021
Terrible decision, sold out integrity of the pyramid system for £50k. Everybody jumped up and down about integrity when super league was put forward, but ok to have teams in lowland league not on merit. Give the SPFL an excuse now not to Allow promotion next year
— Charlie E (@helpmyb0b) May 10, 2021