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Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Arthurlie boss promises to make his new look-side 'hard-working and focused'
The 'Lie will resume life in the Premier Division after they got promoted last season, with new boss William Dyer eager to stamp his blueprint on the Barrhead side. New Arthurlie boss William Dyer has promised to make his team 'hard working and focused' as they prepare to begin life in the West of Scotland Premier Division once again. Dyer, who played left back for almost two decades in the West of Scotland Football Leagues (WoSFL), also wants to ensure that his new-look side can compete with the top teams in the division after gaining promotion last season. The former Dundee and Brechin City player has completed an overhaul of the 'Lie squad since taking over from Kevin Rutkiewicz. The former Stirling Albion boss left the Barrhead club due to personal circumstances after guiding the team to promotion. Dyer was appointed as the new boss on May 18. Speaking ahead of the season starting on Saturday, July 26, the 'Lie boss is excited to get going as he outlined his aspirations for the season. 'We want to finish as high up as we can, we want to go and have a positive league campaign,' he said. 'We know it is going to be tough as well but that is where we need to stick together, be a real team, a real unit. 'But we want to go and win every game that we turn up in and compete. We will be a nice, tight unit and hopefully hard to beat and I look forward to getting going.' At the end of the 2025-26 season, there will be a league reconstruction in the divisions below the SPFL leagues, as Scotland's Lowland League clubs voted for change. A new East Division and West Division will be established based on clubs' geographical location. Both divisions will run alongside the Highland League in the fifth tier of Scottish football and will eventually contain 16 teams each. As a result, there will be no relegation from the Lowland League in season 2025/26. However, there will be promotion for teams in the divisions immediately below — East of Scotland Premier Division, West of Scotland Premier Division, South of Scotland League and the East Region Midlands League. Clubs can only be promoted if they meet the Lowland League's entry criteria, which is a bronze-level Scottish FA Licence and complying with financial fair-play rules — ruling Arthurlie out of any promotion should they finish top. But since coming in, Dyer has been hard at work after inheriting a squad which had 14 players out of contract. Skipper Michael MacNeil is one of several members of last season's squad who have agreed fresh terms. Ryan Sinclair, Sean Doherty, Miles Millar and Marc Waters have also chosen to remain with 'Lie for another campaign. However, Dylan McGuigan, Chris Calder, Jordan Leyden, Sam Greenwood, Lee Roulston and Callum McEwan all departed. Aaron Healy — who scored the goal that clinched the title — has been made available for transfer. The Dunterlie boss has since added seven new faces to the side in Shay Burke, Bobby Barr, Callum Scott, Fraser Scott, Jonny Black, Dylan Coll and Ross MacMillan — and he says they will add quality. He said: 'The players will add to the quality of the team and I am sure they will gel well, which I am looking forward to. All the boys, when it comes round, will be hard working, focused and motivated [to win]. We want to make this [Dunterlie Park] a hard place to come and I am looking forward to getting started.' Arthurlie's first game back in the top flight will be in front of the home fans at Dunterlie Park against St Cadoc's.
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts, Celtic and other SPFL teams braced as Scotland's Lowland League votes in favour of reconstruction
The fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid is to split in two Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts and Celtic are bracing themselves for change after Scotland's Lowland League clubs voted for reconstruction. Sitting one level below League Two of the SPFL in the pyramid system, the Lowland League is to split in two in a new regionalised format from season 2026/27. League Two teams dropping out of the SPFL would also be impacted once the new system is in place. A new East Division and West Division will be established based on clubs' geographical location, meaning the Hearts B team and Celtic B team would compete in different leagues should they continue as Lowland League guest clubs. Both divisions would run alongside the Highland League in the fifth tier and would eventually contain 16 teams each. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a result, there is to be no relegation from the Lowland League in season 2025/26. However, there will be promotion for teams in the divisions immediately below - East of Scotland Premier Division, West of Scotland Premier Division, South of Scotland League and the East Region Midlands League. Clubs can only be promoted if they meet the Lowland League's entry criteria, which is a bronze level Scottish FA Licence and complying with financial fair play rules. The West of Scotland and South of Scotland leagues are to directly feed the new West Division, while the East of Scotland and East Region Midland League will supply the East Division. Clubs including Albion Rovers, Caledonian Braves and Cumbernauld Colts are to take their place in the West Division automatically. In the East Division, the likes of Berwick Rangers, Bonnyrigg Rose, Cowdenbeath and Linlithgow Rose would be certain of their places. Other SFA licenced teams would be promoted into the respective leagues in time. It remains to be seen whether Hearts and Celtic continue entering B teams in the new set-up. The Scottish Football Association last week announced a new co-operation system, allowing clubs to partner with one another and loan under-21 players to enhance youth development. That comes into effect immediately for season 2025/26 and could affect how bigger clubs use youngsters. Hearts are already in talks with their Edinburgh neighbours Spartans about a Co-operation Agreement. Transfer window in Scotland The transfer window in Scotland officially opens on 16 June and, from that date, clubs with a Co-operation Agreement can move up to three players back and forward at any time over the season. Moves are not restricted to transfer windows and clubs can have multiple Co-Operation Agreements in place at the same time. However, no club is allowed two in the same division of the pyramid. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The SFA are also disbanding the Under-18 league and the SPFL Reserve League, which will be replaced by a hybrid Under-19 league this season. Overage players are allowed to take part. The Under-19 matches will take place on Mondays rather than the current Friday fixtures. This is to let young players get involved in senior games over the weekend and also have the opportunity to play on a Monday. Similar systems are in place in European countries including Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Hungary and Serbia. Scotland is now following suit to enhance player development with the long-term aim of benefitting the national team. The 18-year-old Hearts striker James Wilson became the youngest international footballer in Scottish history in March and rearing more like him is a priority within Hampden Park's offices.
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Lowland League shake-up confirmed as clubs vote for revamp
The league will be split into East and West sections to run alongside Highland League Scottish Lowland League clubs have voted for reconstruction that will see East and West Divisions run alongside the Highland League from season 2026/27. Full member clubs will be placed into the West and East Divisions, based on geographical split, until there are 16 teams in each. Celtic 'B' will continue in the West and Hearts 'B' in the East, should they continue as guest clubs. Clubs like Motherwell outfit Caledonian Braves, Albion Rovers and Cumbernauld Colts would be included in the West Division automatically, with SFA Licenced clubs from the West of Scotland Premier Division and First Division promoted into the league. Relegation from the Lowland League won't take place this coming season, but promotion will be opened up, with champions from each of the four tier-six leagues – West of Scotland Premier Division, South of Scotland, East of Scotland Premier, East Region Midlands League – promoted into their respective division, if they meet Lowland League entry criteria. This is Scottish FA Licence at bronze level, and meeting Financial Fair Play rules. West of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues would be feeders for the West Division. East of Scotland Premier Division and Midlands Leagues would feed the East Division. Tier-six clubs with the appropriate licencing will be placed in the two leagues until there are 16 teams in each. There is potential for two champions clubs being promoted into the West and East Divisions, respectively, meaning two teams could go down each season. At the moment, the West Division would be made up of Albion Rovers, Caledonian Braves, Clydebank, Cumbernauld Colts, Gretna 2008, two clubs from the South of Scotland League and nine from West of Scotland, plus Celtic 'B' as a 17th guest club.
