Celtic and Hearts B teams remain in Lowland League as Albion Rovers blast 'financial gain over sporting integrity'

Albion Rovers have blasted the decision to allow Premiership B teams to remain in the Lowland League for at least another two seasons after a motion narrowly passed on Monday night.

Clubs from the fifth tier met to vote on a proposal to extend B team participation and the results came in with a vote of 8-7 in favour of B teams, with one club abstaining.

Rovers revealed on Sunday they were voting against the proposals and they have now slammed the decision, saying minimal financial gain has been put ahead of sporting integrity.

Rangers and Celtic B teams were the first to be admitted to the division in 2021 on the understanding it was 'categorically a one-year deal.'

However, B teams have been allowed to enter ever since - at the price of a five-figure fee - and this season Hearts B were included, although Rangers B opted out of playing in the 2023/24 campaign.

Celtic and Hearts B are now set to play in the Lowland League for the next two seasons, with the option of a third, while the door remains open for Rangers B to return and others to join them in future.

It remains the case that no B team can win promotion from the fifth tier. In the result of a B team being crowned champions, the closest non-B team will be put forward as the Lowland League club in the pyramid play-off for a place in the SPFL.

A statement from Rovers, who were relegated to the fifth tier from League Two at the end of last season, read: “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