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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mya Bollan

Can Rangers B or Celtic B get promoted? The 'guest club' status that dictates key Lowland League rule

Rangers and Celtic B will again play in Scottish football's fifth tier next season.

It comes as majority of clubs voted in favour of allow the reserve sides to continue in the Lowland League for another campaign.

The Old Firm B sides met in a Lowland League clash last night at Celtic Park.

The Light Blues secured all three points after a Cole McKinnon goal in the 67th minute put the side in front.

After last night's result, Celtic B currently sit third in this season's Lowland League table with Rangers three points behind the Hoops in fourth - albeit with a game in hand.

The Old Firm B-teams met a Celtic Park last night. (SNS)

Bonnyrigg Rose have already been crowded champions and will battle it out with the Highland League champs.

The winner of that will them face bottom of SPFL League Two in a bid to secure promotion.

As the Old Firm reserves are set to challenge in the fifth tier again next season, could they climb the leagues?

In short, the answer is no.

Both Rangers and Celtic B took part this season - and will again in the 2022-23 campaign - as "guest clubs" in the Lowland League.

Including the two reserve sides in the fifth tier gives young, emerging talents some early exposure to senior football in a competitive environment.

The presence of the two B-teams has proven to be commercially beneficial but the sides are only permitted to compete in the Lowland League and cannot climb their way to League Two even if they top the table.

A statement from the Lowland League read: "It is important to note that guest clubs will not be eligible for promotion. Nor will they hamper the ability of clubs to be promoted to or relegated from the Lowland League.

"This has been a democratic process, with conversation and debate encouraged before any outcome was established.

"The board of the SLFL, and member clubs, remain committed to making a positive impact within our communities and Scottish football as a whole, and will maintain an open mind to any initiatives that support those aims."

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