Sports Minister Maree Todd has agreed to attend a meeting of Lowland League clubs next month to address their concerns over the governance of Scottish football.
The SFA and SPFL were summoned to a Holyrood summit on the future of the game earlier this month, with another round table meeting scheduled for later this year.
Before then, Todd will attend a meeting of Lowland League clubs on September 5, as the simmering row over guest-team invites for the SPFL Trust Trophy rumbles on.
Originally branded the Challenge Cup, the Trust Trophy no longer invites Irish and Welsh teams to take part. This season 11 Premiership B teams, five teams from the Highland League and six from the Lowland League joined clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two instead.
Former senior league teams Albion Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath and East Stirlingshire were also invited to play in the new competition as guest teams.
Airdrieonians are the holders of the SPFL Trust Trophy after beating The New Saints in March
Sports Minister Maree Todd has met with the SFA and SPFL and will have talks with SLFL clubs
Broadwood Stadium is the home of Cumbernauld Colts, who are unhappy at their snub
With places worth a minimum of £6,500 to those taking part, that decision sparked anger amongst those omitted.
Cumbernauld Colts, who finished fourth in the Lowland League and possess the bronze license now required to play in the SPFL, raised concerns over ‘sporting integrity’.
Clubs from the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid will now voice assorted complaints to Todd next month.
A Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed: ‘Sport Minister Maree Todd chaired a positive and constructive round table meeting of MSPs, football governing bodies and fans groups on August 7 at which a wide range of issues were discussed. A further meeting is to be arranged for later in the year.
‘Independently of this, Ms Todd had also accepted an invitation to attend one of the regular meetings of the Scottish Lowland League, now scheduled for September 5. Ms Todd has invited them to meet at the Scottish Parliament.’
Lowland League teams also plan to raise issues over the make-up of the SPFL Board and a perceived lack of representation for clubs lower down the pyramid.
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