Reports Highland League teams could be invited to join new Scottish Conference
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THREE Highland League clubs could be invited to join four Premiership Colts teams to establish a new 10-team Scottish Conference which would be established below Scottish League Two and above the SHFL.
The Daily Mail has reported four Premiership B teams along with three Highland League teams and three Lowland League teams could form a new division for the 2024/25 season if plans are given approval.
The Highland League have declined to comment on the claims made in the Daily Mail, which says the league, which would be established as a separate company distinct from the SPFL, would become the fifth tier of Scottish football.
The report says the league would be funded by four Premiership entrants.
There are no colts teams in the Highland League, but Celtic, Hearts and Rangers all field B teams in the Lowland League.
The Daily Mail report says a meeting of Scottish Football's Pyramid Working Group came up with three options.
The first option is an SPFL League Three, whether the 'B' teams will be allowed to gain promotion, or allowed to get to League One but not beyond.
The second option is to expand League Two from 10 to 16, including 'B' teams and some from the Lowland and Highland Leagues. B teams would not be permitted for promotion beyond League One.
The third option is the 10-team Scottish conference with no promotion for the B teams.
For any proposal to pass, they would require a 75 per cent approval vote of the 42 senior clubs.
Clubs have been given to the end of next week to respond to three proposals set out by the pyramid working group.
Highland League president George Manson declined to comment on the report when contacted on Friday.
