THE youth development plans of Celtic, Hearts and Rangers are set to be dealt a bodyblow after it emerged their applications to join the Lowland League are expected to be rejected en masse.
The Old Firm duo both fielded B teams in the fifth tier this season and were keen to continue the experiment next term after assessing the benefits of the experiment.
Clubs in the division initially voted in favour of accepting two ‘guest clubs’ again, with this season’s £25,000 ‘joining fee’ being increased to £40,000 as a sweetener.
However, Hearts threw a spanner in the works by also applying to join. With a lack of a reserve set-up, the Jambos view the league as the perfect breeding ground for their young players.
The Lowland League (SLFL) clubs have since rejected expanding to 19 teams to allow all three guest applicants and were instead expecting to decide which two to admit.
But the Premiership trio have balked at getting involved in a selection process and have now indicated either all three should be accepted or none.
The issue will be discussed again by the SLFL at their annual general meeting on Monday but league insiders anticipate clubs will reject the top-flight threesome and revert to a 16-team league for next season.
The rapid development of the likes of Alex Lowry and Leon King at Rangers - both of whom were stripped for the Europe League and Scottish Cup finals - and Joey Dawson, Owen Moffat and Liverpool signing Ben Doak at Celtic after impressing with their Colts teams in the Lowland League has caught the eye of other clubs and the Scottish FA.
But Celtic, Hearts and Rangers look likely to have to go back to the drawing board for alternative ways to progress their best young talents.
