Premier Sports Cup and SPFL Trust Trophy 'invitation' booted out by Lowland League clubs
Lowland League clubs have voted in favour of refusing future invites to SPFL cup competitions if places are to be "solely allocated on the clubs' former status as an SPFL member".
This will mean clubs won't take part in the Premier Sports Cup or SPFL Trust Trophy competitions, unless it is on merit.
Six Lowland League clubs were hand-picked to take part in this season's SPFL Trust Trophy, despite some other clubs finishing higher up, and champions East Kilbride have reached the semi-finals, where they will play Championship side Queen's Park at Hampden.
In the season before last, Cowdenbeath were invited to take part in the Viaplay Cup, despite finishing 15th in the Lowland League.
East Kilbride took part in this season's Premier Sports Cup, having won the Lowland League last term.
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The board of the Scottish Lowland Football League informed the SPFL of their decision in October but say that only part of their response was noted during an SPFL briefing this week, which was issued to all clubs.
Lowland League bosses have issued a statement making their position clear, that "clubs do not wish to be considered for invitation to the SPFL's cup competitions if the SPFL chooses to issue such invitations based on clubs' former membership of the SPFL", which would refer to clubs like Albion Rovers and Cowdenbeath.
The statement continued: "The league's preferred position remains that invitations should be based on sporting merit, in line with UEFA commitments.
"While we respect the SPFL's right to select participants to their cup competitions as they see fit, we firmly believe that these places should be allocated to teams based on their efforts and achievements on the field of play, and not because they are former members of an organisation."
East Kilbride will travel to face Queen's Park in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final at Hampden on January 28.
