Inverness Caledonian Thistle are officially downgraded from silver to entry licence by SFA as a result of going into administration - Highland League and Lowland League clubs require at least bronze licence to be considered for promotion to League Two

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have officially been downgraded to an SFA Entry Level Licence as a result of going into administration.

It was confirmed the League One outfit had been moved down from holding a Silver Level Licence to an Entry Level Licence at the SFA Licence Committee Review in December.

The SFA Club Licensing Scheme is a regulatory system which sets out standards and procedures clubs are assessed on. Licence awards are graded at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Entry level.

As of last season, clubs outside the top four SPFL divisions require at least an SFA Bronze Level Licence to be eligible for promotion to League Two. The Bronze Licence is one level above an Entry Level Licence.

Last season, Highland League champions Buckie Thistle were denied a chance at winning promotion to League Two for only holding an entry level licence.

However, it is not believed that any club currently playing within the SPFL that holds an entry level licence are at risk of being demoted outside the top four divisions.

Licences are graded on four main areas. They include ground criteria, first team football criteria, youth team football criteria and legal, administration, finance and codes of practice criteria before receiving their overall award.

Due to going into administration in October, Caley Thistle received entry level status for legal, administration, finance and codes of practice criteria, resulting in them being downgraded to an overall entry level licence.

In the other three areas, the Caledonian Stadium and the club’s youth set-up have been awarded silver status, with its first team set-up awarded bronze status.

A spokesman for the SFA said they were unable to go into details on the reasons for downgrading Caley Thistle to an entry level licence as discussions are confidential.

But in the SFA club licensing manual which is available on the SFA website, on Page 62, Section 8.13, it is believed administration is the only reason Inverness was downgraded to entry level.

It read “A club may meet the terms of the entry criterion should the club included in its reporting perimeter have been the subject to an insolvency event as defined in the Scottish FA Articles within the period between 1 June 2024 and the licensing decision in the calendar year 2025, provided that the club meets certain conditions set out by the licensing committee at its discretion, and approved by the Scottish FA Board from time to time.”

The SPFL also declined to comment on Inverness Caledonian Thistle being downgraded to an entry level licence and what it would mean for their future participation in league competitions.

However, it is not believed that their participation in the SPFL is at risk.

It is thought if the club exit administration, Caley Thistle will once again meet all the requirements to at least obtain a bronze level licence.

A spokesman for BDO and Inverness Caledonian Thistle said the club will look to exit administration and will aim to regain a higher level of licence.

They said: “The Joint Administrators note the downgrading of the licence to entry level, which is in accordance with SPFL rules.

“On completion of a successful Company Voluntary Arrangement, which will facilitate the exit from Administration, we look forward to working with the acquirer and the SPFL on the regrading of the licence.

“We would stress that the downgrade is due solely to Administration, all other criteria meet the SPFL requirements.”

At the last update in December, administrators BDO said 15 parties remain interested in taking over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Clubs within the SPFL who fall below the requirements of a bronze level licence are deducted points based on the reasons.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have already been deducted 15 points this season and will be deducted five points next season as a result of falling into administration.

League Two outfit Bonnyrigg Rose are currently the only other team in the SPFL with an entry level licence due to their ground at New Dundas Park not meeting the requirements due to a slope at their pitch. They were deducted six points on November 12.

League One outfit Dumbarton also fell into administration in November and were deducted 15 points this season and will be deducted five points next season.

But they still currently hold a bronze level licence as their last review took place in September, two months before they went into administration.

Currently only four lower league teams hold the bronze entry level licence which makes them eligible for promotion to League Two.

Two of those teams are in the Highland League which include league leaders Brechin City and Banks O’Dee who are in third place.

In the Lowland League, leaders East Kilbride and Cumbernauld Colts, who are bottom of the table, hold the required bronze level licence for promotion.