Fifth tier will be diluted by restructure, says Braves boss

Caledonian Braves boss Ricky Waddell says there’s no real rationale to split the Lowland League into East and West Divisions, and fears dilution of a competitive set-up.

- ANDY MCGILVRAY

But Waddell says the whole of Scottish football needs to at least discuss the idea of proper reconstruction at some point.

The Lowland League will split into two 16-team East and West divisions, to run alongside the Highland League, from season 2026/27.

Braves, Albion Rovers and Cumbernauld Colts go into the West section, which will be added to by SFA Licenced clubs from the West and South of Scotland leagues.

The East section is already populated by several Lowland clubs like Broxburn Athletic and Linlithgow Rose, and this will be added to by teams from the East Premier and East Midlands League.

Braves were the only Lowland club to vote against the proposals, and Waddell explained: “We spoke about it quite in-depth and the club came to the conclusion that there was no real reason to reconstruct the league.