Scottish non-league football is about to step into a brand-new era, with a completely reshaped Lowland League arriving next season – and the scramble to qualify has already started. This year’s South of Scotland and West of Scotland Premier Division campaigns aren’t just about titles or survival anymore. They’re about earning a place in the first-ever Lowland League West, a new tier that will sit directly below the national pyramid.
Only clubs with an SFA licence can make the jump, and with limited spaces to fill, every point suddenly matters more than ever.
How the new Lowland League West will work
Scottish non-league football is heading for a big shake-up next season, with the creation of a new Lowland League West. This season in the South of Scotland League and the West of Scotland Premier Division is not just about titles or mid-table finishes any more – it is about securing a place in the new structure, and only SFA-licensed clubs will be allowed to move up.
New structure from 2026–27
From the 2026–27 season, the Lowland League will split into two parallel divisions:
- Lowland League East
- Lowland League West
Each division will be built around:
- 16 SFA-licensed clubs
- Plus one guest team
To form Lowland League West, the league will take:
- Two SFA-licensed clubs from the South of Scotland League (champions and runners-up)
- As many SFA-licensed clubs as needed from the West of Scotland Premier Division
If there are not enough licensed clubs available, Lowland League West will simply run with fewer teams.
South of Scotland League – who can go up
In the South of Scotland League, two teams will be promoted to Lowland League West at the end of the 2025–26 season:
- The league champions
- The runners-up
However, they must hold an SFA club licence. The licensed South of Scotland clubs are:
- Dalbeattie Star
- Newton Stewart
- St Cuthbert Wanderers
- Wigtown & Bladnoch
Stranraer Reserves are currently leading the way in the table but cannot be promoted under any circumstances because they are a reserve side.
Based on current standings, the realistic candidates to move up from the South of Scotland League are:
- Dalbeattie Star – licensed and well placed in the table
- Newton Stewart – licensed and also in the leading pack
- St Cuthbert Wanderers – licensed but currently towards the bottom
- Wigtown & Bladnoch – licensed but sitting at the very bottom, so promotion is highly unlikely
Only the top two licensed clubs in the final table will actually be promoted.
West of Scotland Premier Division – no relegation this season
The 2025–26 West of Scotland Premier Division is a special transitional season. There will be no relegation from the Premier Division this year. Instead, the league is focused on sending licensed clubs upwards into Lowland League West.
Promotion from the WoSFL Premier Division depends on two things only:
- The club must hold an SFA licence
- The club must finish high enough to be selected to help fill the new Lowland League West places
Up to 10 clubs can be promoted from the Premier Division to Lowland League West, depending on how many licensed clubs are needed once the South of Scotland places are confirmed.
The SFA-licensed clubs in the West of Scotland Premier Division are:
- Auchinleck Talbot
- Cumnock
- Glenafton Athletic
- Kilwinning Rangers
- Pollok
- Rutherglen Glencairn
- St Cadoc’s
All other Premier Division clubs are automatically ineligible for promotion to Lowland League West unless they gain an SFA licence in time.
West of Scotland Premier – who is currently in the frame
With relegation off the table, every licensed club in the Premier Division is “safe” and only has to worry about finishing high enough to catch the eye for Lowland League West.
Based on the latest league table, the licensed clubs in the strongest positions are:
- Auchinleck Talbot – right at the top end of the table
- Cumnock – in a strong position in the upper half
- Kilwinning Rangers – top-half and well placed
- Pollok – mid-table but inside the likely promotion pack
- Rutherglen Glencairn – currently sitting in a promotable area
- Glenafton Athletic – mid-table with a realistic chance of being included
St Cadoc’s are also licensed and therefore eligible, even though they are struggling near the bottom. With no relegation this year, league position is not a barrier for them – the key factor is that they hold an SFA licence and are in the Premier Division, but must finish top 10.
Clean summary
Lowland League West for 2026–27 will be built entirely from SFA-licensed clubs in the south and west of the country.
As things stand:
- From the South of Scotland League, Dalbeattie Star and Newton Stewart are the most likely licensed clubs to claim the two promotion places, with St Cuthbert Wanderers and Wigtown & Bladnoch needing a huge turnaround to get into contention.
- From the West of Scotland Premier Division, Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock, Kilwinning Rangers, Pollok, Glenafton Athletic and Rutherglen Glencairn are in the strongest positions among the licensed clubs, with St Cadoc’s also eligible despite sitting at the wrong end of the table.
The final shape of the new Lowland League West will depend on where these licensed clubs finish, but the key point is simple: this season is all about licensing and league position at the top, with no one dropping out of the Premier Division at the bottom.
What clubs need to gain an SFA licence
For ambitious non-league clubs, an SFA club licence is the key that unlocks promotion into the national pyramid – including the new Lowland League West. Getting licensed is not just about floodlights; it is a full audit of the club’s ground, governance, finances and youth structure. This guide breaks down, in plain terms, what a club actually needs.
Stadium and facilities
The ground is usually the biggest hurdle. To meet SFA licensing standards, a club must have:
- Floodlights – a compliant floodlighting system capable of hosting full evening matches, with testing and certification.
- Enclosed ground – proper perimeter fencing so the pitch is fully enclosed and access is controlled.
- Turnstiles – a controlled entry point (or points) where spectators can be counted in and out.
- Safe spectator areas – pitchside barriers, safe viewing areas and hard standing around at least part of the pitch.
- Dressing rooms – home and away changing rooms of minimum size with showers, toilets and suitable space for players and staff.
- Match officials’ room – a separate, secure changing area for referees and assistants.
- Medical provision – a basic medical/first aid area and equipment, including access to a defibrillator and trained first-aiders on matchdays.
Youth pathway
A functioning player pathway is non-negotiable. The SFA expects:
- At least one official youth team within the club structure (for example under-20s, under-18s or under-17s), or a formal partnership with a youth academy.
- All youth coaches to hold appropriate coaching badges and up-to-date PVG checks.
- A named child wellbeing and protection officer.
- Written safeguarding and child protection policies that are actually implemented, not just on paper.
Clubs with no genuine youth pathway will struggle to progress their application.
Coaching standards
The first team set-up must meet minimum coaching criteria, usually including:
- A manager or head coach with appropriate SFA/UEFA coaching qualifications (for example UEFA B Licence or equivalent, depending on the level).
- Recognised qualifications for specialist roles such as goalkeeping and youth coaches where applicable.
- Ongoing coach education and a basic development plan for coaching staff.
Club governance and paperwork
Off the park, the SFA want to see that the club is properly run. Typical requirements include:
- A written club constitution and clear legal status (for example members’ club, company limited by guarantee, etc.).
- An elected committee or board with documented roles and responsibilities.
- Minutes from meetings and evidence of proper decision-making and record-keeping.
- Policies covering equality, anti-discrimination, discipline and complaints procedures.
- Data protection and privacy practices in line with legal requirements.
Financial checks
The SFA will not licence a club that looks financially unstable. Clubs are expected to show:
- Up-to-date annual accounts, prepared and signed off by an independent examiner or auditor.
- A club bank account in the club’s name, with transparent control over income and expenditure.
- No football-related debts and no serious outstanding tax or insurance issues.
- Evidence that the club can meet its ongoing obligations without risking collapse mid-season.
Inspection and approval
Once a club has put all of this in place, the SFA will:
- Review submitted documents and policies.
- Carry out ground inspections to check facilities, safety and matchday operations.
- Verify coaching, youth and safeguarding arrangements.
- Assess the club against the licensing criteria and issue feedback.
After that process, the SFA can grant a full licence, offer a provisional licence with conditions, or refuse the application and set out what still needs to be fixed.
Simple checklist for clubs
In practice, a club aiming for an SFA licence should be able to tick off all of the following:
- Floodlit, enclosed ground with turnstiles, barriers and hard standing.
- Compliant dressing rooms, officials’ facilities and medical provision.
- At least one genuine youth team or academy partnership, with safeguarding in place.
- Qualified coaching staff with the correct badges for the level.
- Formal governance: constitution, committee, policies and proper records.
- Clean, up-to-date accounts and a stable financial position.
- Successful SFA inspection and sign-off.
For clubs in the South of Scotland League and West of Scotland League, meeting these standards is now essential if they want to be part of the new-look Lowland League structure. The football on the pitch still matters – but without an SFA licence, even a title win will not be enough to move up.