Cumbernauld Colts blast SPFL over Trust Trophy snub and call on SFA to intervene on 'sporting integrity' grounds

Cumbernauld Colts have blasted the SPFL over their selection of teams to compete in next season's SPFL Trust Trophy and called on the Scottish FA to intervene on the grounds of 'sporting intergity'.

The Broadwood club are fuming after being snubbed by the SPFL for one of the six invites into next season's revamped competition - which will no longer include non-Scottish clubs - despite finishing fourth in the Lowland League last season.

The SPFL has invited the top five teams in the Highland League to compete in the competition next season, but have irked some clubs in the fifth tier with their seemingly random selection from the Lowland League.

Lowland champions East Kilbride and third-place Bo'ness United have been invited but the likes of 14th-place East Stirlingshire, 13th-place Berwick, 10th-place Cowdenbeath and 9th place Albion Rovers have also been given a spot in the tournament, along with Celtic B and Hearts B who make up two of 11 Premiership reserve sides that have received an invite.

Colts have been joined by Lowland rivals Tranent, who finished fifth this season, in criticising the SPFL's decision and released a statement calling for action to be taken amid what they also see as concerns over 'financial fair play'. They also point out some clubs don't hold a Brozne Licence, as Colts do, which was something that prevented Highland League Buckie Thistle from competing in the pyramid play-offs last season.

A club statement by Colts read: "It is with considerable regret that we feel it necessary to make the following statement in response to the SPFL's club invites to the SPFL Trust Trophy.

"The SPFL invites brings into question the sporting integrity for the SPFL and raises concerns with financial fair play