The Scottish FA membership has officially approved a resolution to restructure the fifth tier of Scottish football.

This move will see the current Lowland League replaced by two new regional divisions: the Lowland League East and Lowland League West.

These changes will take effect from the beginning of the 2026/27 season and mark a significant overhaul of the national football pyramid.

The revamped Tier 5 structure will feature the two new Lowland Leagues operating alongside the existing Highland League, creating a three-league fifth tier.

Each Lowland League will comprise 16 teams, with promotion and relegation systems linked to the surrounding non-league structures.

While the restructure will not come into force until the 2026/27 campaign, the upcoming 2025/26 season will act as a transition year, particularly for clubs in the West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL).

A minimum of eight WoSFL clubs could be promoted to the new Lowland League West at the end of the campaign, with no teams relegated from any WoSFL division, as confirmed at the league’s AGM before the end of last season.

Promotion eligibility is also contingent on Scottish FA licensing, with only clubs holding an SFA Membership Licence able to be promoted to Tier 5.

From 2026/27 onwards, the new Tier 5 setup will see each Lowland League operate with promotion and relegation to and from their respective regional leagues, such as the WoSFL and East of Scotland League.

The three champions of the Highland League, Lowland League East, and Lowland League West will enter a round-robin play-off.

The winner of that mini-league will then face the bottom club in SPFL League 2 in a two-legged tie for a place in the professional leagues.

At the other end, one team will be relegated from each Lowland League annually, with the corresponding regional champion replacing them, again, subject to licensing.