Cumbernauld Colts: Rangers and Celtic Colts will be good for Lowland League

Cumbernauld Colts believe the inclusion of Rangers and Celtic Colts sides will raise the Lowland League's profile

An indicative vote on Monday night among Lowland League Clubs produced a majority in favour.

And the Cumbernauld club say they believe the move can only be good for them and the league as a whole.

A club statement said: “We respect the league board’s position and democratic process applied in deciding the acceptance of the Rangers and Celtic Colts teams.

"If ratified, the resultant increased interest arising from their participation can only be good for the league and for our club.

"It is a fact that since the League’s inception it has struggled to be widely recognised as the fifth tier of the professional game.

“The commercial constraints of operating at this level are finely balanced and initiatives such as our exciting new business partnership, Cumbernauld Colts FC - Premier Partners Club, will hopefully benefit from this increased interest.

"Cumbernauld Colts support the pyramid and the ability for clubs to progress through the leagues. We also support the concept of bringing on youth players and in fact the progression of players from youth to the senior game is ingrained in our club’s ethos and we are proud to provide our players with the pathway from pre-school to semi-professional.

"We can therefore understand the frustrations felt by both Rangers and Celtic in this regard.

“We acknowledge that sporting integrity must be maintained at all costs however, given that the feeder league campaigns were null and void last season we understand that the ability of the Lowland League to identify progression from tiers 6 and 7 was compromised thus providing an opportunity for this initiative.

“We welcome the enhanced prospect of marketing and promoting the LL to the benefit of all clubs.”

Monday’s vote backed the proposal to add the two Old Firm B-teams for one season, with an entry fee of £25,000 each and neither eligible for promotion. The plan also pledged “no current member would be adversely affected” by the teams’ admission.

A change of rules will now begin to be formalised.