IAN MAXWELL believes Scottish football and the international side will reap the rewards of another Lowland League shake-up after Rangers, Celtic and Hearts were granted berths for the new campaign.
The Old Firm B teams will be joined by their Tynecastle peers in the fifth tier next term following a vote that saw member clubs perform a U-turn on their initial decision to block guest sides from entering their competition.
Rangers edged out Celtic on goal difference last season after the Glasgow kids finished level on 73 points and behind champions Bonnyrigg Rose as they went on to defeat Cowdenbeath and earn their place in League Two for the 2022/23 season.
Hearts have now agreed to stump up the increased £40,000 entrance fee and the Lowland League will operate with 19 teams in the coming months after a 36-game campaign was agreed just weeks before players and managers return to pre-season training.
The Scottish FA will lead on a review of the pyramid structure, with recommendations proposed ahead of the 2023/24 season, and chief executive Maxwell is confident there will be significant benefits as a result of the Lowland League expansion.
Maxwell said: "We are delighted that the Lowland League clubs have approved the participation of three guest clubs for the forthcoming season.
"The Scottish FA supports the principle of elite player development and particularly providing opportunities for talented players in the key transition years from 17 to 21.
“The Scottish FA will oversee a discussion in parallel to propose and implement a long-term plan with the objectives of optimising the pyramid, which has been a resounding success in Scottish football, harnessing the player pathway and accelerating the development of the country’s most talented young players through the national youth teams to the full international stage.”
The Old Firm finished 14 points adrift of Bonnyrigg last term and the sides, guided by David McCallum and Tommy McIntyre respectively, will once again be ineligible for the end of season play-offs to ensure Lowland League clubs have a chance to progress through the pyramid system.
The inclusion of a third guest team proved to be a bone of contention for members but the new proposal, which includes increased funding for clubs and the League, has seen attitudes change and a second vote saw Rangers, Celtic and Hearts admitted to the division.
"We were always open to the inclusion of guest clubs for a further season given the successful player development outcomes from last year's pilot," Thomas Brown, the chairman of the Lowland League, said.
"We want to be a modern and progressive league and we are excited to be playing our part in the eco system that develops Scotland’s talent.
"Importantly, we now look forward to working with the Scottish FA, the SPFL and our friends in the pyramid to create some new solutions to some existing challenges which will provide a bright future at all levels of our game."
The Lowland League experiment is designed to aid the progression of young players as they attempt to make the transition from academy structures into first team football and addresses the key development stage between the ages of 17 and 21.
Guest clubs will be required to field seven players eligible for Scotland national teams in their starting line-up on each match day and SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster reckons the next generation of players have now been given the perfect platform upon which to showcase their talents.
Doncaster said: "It is hugely encouraging to see such a joined-up and collaborative approach being adopted in such a vital area of our game.
“There are few more exciting things in football than watching the development of home-grown talent and it's extremely encouraging that the Lowland League has agreed to assist our clubs on a temporary basis for Season 2022/23.
"The SPFL will commit our energies to a process that will explore options and, hopefully, allow us to move forward various aspects of our game for the benefit of our 42 member clubs and Scottish football as a whole."
