THE Scottish football league reconstruction proposals that were rejected on Monday would have rewarded teams that didn’t merit it.

Cowdenbeath said the plans gave undue preference to clubs like Edinburgh City, Falkirk, Inverness, Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers.

The plans failed after only 16 of the 42 clubs indicated they would back a change.

Director David Allan said: “They said this would get rid of any perceived injustices and unfairness but it doesn’t.

“Kelty and Brora were only in a play-off position, there would have been one position available so why would they both go up?

“Same as Edinburgh City, Falkirk and Inverness, they only finished second, they’re not in an automatic promotion place, why would they get preference over others and be promoted?

“We were in a play-off place too but we’ve been left on the shelf, how is that fair on us?”

The proposals put forward by Hearts chief Ann Budge were for a 14-10-10-10 league set-up which would have saved the Tynecastle side, as well as Partick Thistle and Stranraer, from relegation.

"Kelty and Brora, champions of the Lowland and Highland leagues respectively, would have been admitted to League Two.

Inverness, who finished second in the Championship, would have joined the Premiership with Falkirk replacing them in the second tier and Edinburgh City moving up to League One.

Mr Allan said: “These teams only secured a play-off place, the same as us, they haven’t qualified for anything other than a semi-final.

“Before it wasn’t as much of an issue as everyone in the play-offs was losing out, but you could deal with that as it’s extraordinary circumstances, but now they’ve moved the goalposts.

“Nothing against Hearts, they’ve always been very helpful in loaning us players and Craig Levein is a good friend to us, but that’s not the issue. It’s about right and wrong.”

He added that the proposal to introduce Celtic and Rangers Colts teams into the league had already been rejected twice by all clubs in League One and Two.

He said: “The downsides which we previously highlighted in detail still greatly outweigh any advantages that might accrue.”

Cowden said the lower leagues’ suggested playing return in October will be “extremely challenging” but better than the “highly undesirable option” of mothballing clubs until January.

The club have extended the contracts of the management team and the majority of the players until July 31. They remain on furlough.

Two players are leaving, Ryan Connelly’s time at Central Park was interrupted by injury and his contract ended on June 8. He has signed for Hill of Beath.

Josh Rae will depart when his contract expires on June 30. The club wished them well for the future.

The club aims to hold a shareholders meeting via Zoom in the next few weeks.

The chairman and two directors recently agreed a new rental agreement with the owners of the ground “which gives due cognisance to the current situation for the club” and a way forward for some “legacy issues”.