Darvel manager Mick Kennedy has claimed plans for Celtic and Rangers B teams to join a newly-created SPFL League Three are in the works.

It's claimed the clubs could be granted entry into a new division with both Glasgow B teams and Hearts B reportedly not set to be invited back into the fifth tier next season.

A Sportsmail report claims a new League Three could be created to accommodate Scottish Premiership colt teams and clubs from the Highland and Lowland Leagues.

Kennedy - who leads his West of Scotland League side into a Scottish Cup clash against Aberdeen on Monday - reckons it's a matter of time before the new league is introduced, even if he opposes the system shake-up.

He told the Daily Mail: "SPFL 3 is coming. If it’s not this year then it’s coming the following year. I have spoken to enough people in the game to know what’s coming down the tracks.

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"The sticking point is the League One and Two sides. They usually team up to block the vote. But I think clubs there will be assured by proposed changes to SPFL entry criteria for clubs like us which will give them a degree of protection.

"The quid pro quo will be that Celtic and Rangers won’t vote for that unless they also get an agreement to get their B teams in somewhere.

"For me, SPFL 3 is definitely coming — and changing the criteria will be how they get everybody on board."

The possible pyramid change could see entry into the professional pyramid limited to secure backing from lower league clubs, it's claimed.

But Kennedy is adamant competitive integrity will be lost if B teams are parachuted into an SPFL League Three.

He added: "You can’t have a competitive pyramid system, where community clubs are investing significant funds to grow youth development and their infrastructure, and then make a sudden decision because of pressure from Celtic and Rangers to drop their B teams into the middle of it.

"I just don’t see the fairness of that. What Celtic and Rangers want is B teams in the senior leagues, with promotion all the way up to the Championship. Whether they get that or not, I don’t know. But I know that’s what they are asking for."