Darvel boss Mick Kennedy claims the SFA are hatching a plot to enter Celtic and Rangers B team into an SPFL 3.
The Glasgow clubs’ second string are currently playing in the Lowland League along with Hearts, although the Daily Mail reports that the trio are unlikely to be invited back into the fifth tier next season.
But Darvel boss Kennedy insists SPFL 3 is a foregone conclusion in order to give the top flight B teams a division to play in, with a voting carve up to change the SPFL entry requirements being led by Celtic and Rangers to get League One and Two clubs onside and ensure the proposal is passed “SPFL 3 is coming,” he said. “If it's not this year then it's coming the following year. I have spoken to enough people in the game to know what's coming down the tracks. The sticking point is the League One and Two sides. They usually team up to block the vote.
“But I think clubs there will be assured by proposed changes to SPFL entry criteria for clubs like us which will give them a degree of protection. The quid pro quo will be that Celtic and Rangers won't vote for that unless they also get an agreement to get their B teams in somewhere.
“For me, SPFL 3 is definitely coming - and changing the criteria will be how they get everybody on board.'
Darvel, who host Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Monday night, have ambitions to join the league ranks themselves. They’ve set themselves a target of reaching League One by 2026, but their task will get much harder should plans for SPFL 3 come to fruition and LKennedy doesn’t think it’s fair.
He added: “You can't have a competitive pyramid system, where community-based clubs are investing significant funds to grow youth development and their infrastructure, and then make a sudden decision because of pressure from Celtic and Rangers to drop their B teams into the middle of it.
“I just don't see the fairness of that. What Celtic and Rangers want is B teams in the senior leagues, with promotion all the way up to the Championship. Whether they get that or not, I don't know. But I know that's what they are asking for.
“I think that's what the big clubs want here via entry to an SPFL 3. If they have an opportunity to go as high as the Championship or enter cups, Celtic and Rangers will throw money at their B teams. This is nothing to do with Darvel. Forget Darvel. If I was still managing in the amateur game, I would be saying the same thing. I disagree with this plan on every level.
“I genuinely don't see the requirement for it. The requirement they see is to give B teams somewhere to play, but it's not the responsibility of clubs like us to create a platform for the two richest clubs in the country to develop their youth teams.”
READ NEXT:
