New setback for Conference

PLANS for a new Scottish Conference have suffered a setback after Queen’s Park ended their interest in entering a B team. Controversial proposals for a new ten-team fifth tier, pitching Premiership Colts teams against sides from the Lowland and Highland Leagues from season 2024-25, will be put to the vote at

the SFA AGM on Tuesday. Celtic, Rangers and Hearts are prepared to pay a £100,000 fee to enter a team in the proposed new division. Queen’s Park expressed an interest after Aberdeen decided against getting involved, but the Championship club informed the SPFL last week that they would not be pursuing the idea. To pass muster the new competition needs 55 of the 102 member clubs to vote in favour. Responding to a backlash by supporters, however, Peterhead, Albion Rovers, Bonnyrigg Rose and Raith Rovers have already gone public with their plans to say no. Ten Highland League teams and five from the Lowland League have also signalled their intention to vote against the plan, leaving the SFA and SPFL facing the possibility of defeat. Mick Kennedy, boss of Lowland League side East Kilbride, has already called the plans ‘astonishing and shameful’ — claiming the blueprint will penalise 200 teams. And clubs hoping to rise up through the pyramid face a fresh obstacle to their ambitions via beefed-up club licensing rules. From season 2024/25, clubs contesting the promotion play-off between the winners of the Lowland and Highland Leagues will be required to reach Bronze level in SFA licensing. The new criteria stipulate a minimum of 100 seats in a stadium and a covered area for 500 fans. Failure to come up to scratch could see teams denied promotion. All Lowland and Highland League teams outwith Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath and Cumbernauld Colts fall short of the level currently required. A number of clubs in the senior leagues, including Airdrie, Bonnyrigg Rose, Cove Rangers, FC Edinburgh and Kelty Hearts also fail to meet the Bronze level criteria and have now been given 12 months’ grace to comply. Meanwhile, Rangers will no longer groundshare with Dumbarton after the League Two club struck an agreement with Broomhill.