League president says Rangers and Celtic B teams should start at bottom of pyramid and not Lowland League
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CELTIC and Rangers B teams should start at the bottom of the pyramid system if they want to enter league competition.
That is the view of North Caledonian Football Association president Iain Whitehead, who says it is wrong to allow B teams to enter the Lowland League.
Clubs in the Lowland League voted to allow the Old Firm to enter the tier five division, which is the equivalent of the Highland League in the north, for one season only.
The vote resulted in disappointment from tier six and seven divisions such as the East of Scotland League, South of Scotland League and West of Scotland League that the Old Firm were allowed to leapfrog two levels of the pyramid system.
The North Caledonian League is set to be a tier six north competition next season, with promotion to the Highland League scheduled to open up.
Whitehead says he has no problem with B teams or colts outfits playing in league competitions. But he says it is unfair Celtic and Rangers B teams will not enter at the bottom of the pyramid.
“I don’t have a problem with reserve teams, but they should be coming in right at the bottom,” he said.
“I don’t see any problem with a team working their way up from the bottom tier and there should be something set in the rules for that.
“They talk about the financial aspect and it will be good to market the Lowland League.
“But if they were to start in tier seven and work their way up, that would distribute the wealth to clubs in a fairer way. But it looks like only the Lowland League will benefit financially and clubs below that won’t.
“In my eyes, there is an unfairness there.
“They should be going in right at the bottom of the pyramid and be allowed to get promoted until League Two level.
“I would have had no problem with that.”
Two years ago, Inverness Caledonian Thistle launched a bid to enter a colts team into the Highland League which was rejected by club officials.
With the NCL a closed off league, Whitehead said they would have given positive consideration to an ICT colts team in their division, but were not approached by the club.
The NCL has a history of reserve teams competing in the division in the past, including Brora Rangers, Clachnacuddin, Caledonian, Caley Thistle, Inverness Thistle and Ross County.
