The Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL) Board notes the confirmation from Linlithgow Rose and the Scottish FA that this season’s SLFL champions will not participate in the Pyramid Play‑off against the Highland Football League champions.
While we recognise and acknowledge Linlithgow Rose’s achievement in winning the SLFL title, progression into the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is strictly contingent upon also meeting the Bronze Licence criteria set out within the Scottish FA Club Licensing system.
The responsibility for achieving and retaining the required licence rests, in the first instance, with each individual club.
The fundamental purpose of the SLFL is to act as a competitive, compliant pathway into the SPFL. The integrity of the Scottish football pyramid relies upon the ability of all leagues to put forward champions who are fully eligible. When that does not happen, the impact is felt not only by the club concerned, but also by their potential opponents, their supporters and the wider game.
The inability to put forward an eligible representative for the play-off this season is a matter the SLFL Board takes extremely seriously. We are most disappointed and highly concerned that Linlithgow Rose were ineligible by virtue of their failure at a late stage to attain bronze license status. It is essential that this outcome is treated as a clear warning that licensing requirements and timelines must be planned for and met in full.
To safeguard the integrity of the pyramid and fulfil our obligations within Scottish football, the SLFL Board will now look to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure as far as possible that we consistently have eligible, Bronze licensed clubs ready to contest the play-off in future seasons.
As part of this, the Board will implement a proactive framework designed to guide our member clubs towards achieving and maintaining the necessary Scottish FA Club Licensing criteria well in advance of the season’s end.
These will include:
- identify, at an early stage, those clubs with realistic promotion ambitions;
- monitor their progress against Scottish FA Club Licensing criteria during the season; and
- provide clear guidance on expectations, milestones and consequences where progress is not sufficient.
In parallel, the Board will also review any rules and related provisions to ensure that our internal regulations form a robust and coherent framework which supports these objectives and aligns clearly with national licensing requirements.
We will work diligently with all SLFL clubs and other parties to ensure off-pitch compliance matches their on-pitch ambitions. Clubs can expect both support and scrutiny in equal measure as we seek to avoid a repeat of the present situation.
The SLFL remains firmly committed to the pyramid system and to upholding its strength and credibility. We will continue to engage with the Scottish FA, the SPFL and our member clubs to ensure that future SLFL champions are not only worthy of the title on the pitch, but also fully prepared off it to take their place in the Pyramid Play‑off.
