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The fifth tier of Scottish football’s pyramid in the south of the country has come in for criticism in recent months over not increasing promotion slots for clubs in tier six below and for continuing with B teams, but there will be changes.

Cowdenbeath join East Stirlingshire and Berwick Rangers to form a trio of former SPFL clubs who have been sucked into to the Lowland League as a consequence of the pyramid play-off system that’s been in place since 2014-15.

Founder members Vale of Leithen, who finished bottom this season with just five points from 34 matches, have been relegated to the East of Scotland League for next term.

Cowdenbeath will join the likes of East Stirlingshire v Bo'ness United in the Lowland League next season

Their place will be taken by either Tranent, Darvel or St Cuthbert Wanderers, champions of the East, West of Scotland League respectively.

The three-way round robin play-off begins on Sunday when Tranent host St Cuthberts, who then host Darvel in midweek. Tranent then head to Ayrshire to face Darvel on Saturday, May 28.

The final piece of the Lowland League jigsaw for next season has still to be decided after clubs voted to allow two ‘guest teams’ in expectation that Celtic and Rangers would automatically take up the B team places, only for Hearts to make an official application to and throw a spanner in the works.

Lowland League officials subsequently asked members about admitting all three B teams, but that would have taken the league up to 19 teams and was defeated in a vote.

Clubs may now have to vote again on which two B teams to admit and who to leave out when they meet at the end of this month. It could all get a bit messy.

The other change is a club name and a ground. Broomhill have announced that they will change their name next season to Open Goal Broomhill after a new partnership with the football media brand, with podcast host becoming the new manager. Open Goal Broomhill are also understood to be moving from Alloa to Cumbernauld to ground-share at Broadwood.

It is the second name change in 12 months for the club which originally joined the Lowland League as BSC Glasgow in 2014 but have played at Alloa’s Indodrill Stadium since 2016. After splitting last summer from the multi-sports BSC Glasgow club from which it was formed, the club was renamed Broomhill FC.

The is how the league is shaping up for next season, with a few questions still to be answered.

Lowland League 2022/23

Berwick Rangers

Bo’ness United

Caledonian Braves

Civil Service Strollers

Cowdenbeath

Cumbernauld Colts

Dalbeattie Star

East Kilbride

East Stirlingshire

Edinburgh University

Gala Fairydean Rovers

Gretna

Open Goal Broomhill

Spartans

Stirling University

Darvel / St Cuthert Wanderers / Tranent

TBC Celtic B / Hearts B / Rangers B

TBC Rangers B / Celtic B / Hearts B

Lowland League: How it will look in season 2022/23

Lowland League 2022/23