Cumbernauld United player/coach Colin McMenamin insists their move to the West of Scotland League has been dampened by the SPFL's disregard for the pyramid system.
The ex-Stenny striker joined the Lanarkshire outfit last month as Kieran McAnespie's number two and is helping the club prepare for the new West of Scotland campaign.
But clubs in Scotland's lower leagues have been up in arms at the treatment of Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland title winners Kelty Hearts, who have been denied promotion in the tier above, despite winning their respective divisions.
Plans for league reconstruction, which would have expanded the SPFL from 42 to 44 teams and seen Brora and Kelty promoted, were comprehensively voted down by member clubs last week.
McMenamin's Cumbernauld are in tier six and dream of one day progressing to the SPFL themselves via the Lowland League.
But that seems a long way off given the way other ambitious clubs have been treated and the current pathway that stacks the odds against outsiders gaining entry, with four play-off matches.
McMenamin said: "Up until a few weeks ago it was exciting to be in this new setup, but when you see what's happened with the pyramid now it doesn't hold as much hope for teams as we first thought.
"I really feel for both Brora and Kelty and that has filtered down the levels, so it's been a bit disheartening for everyone in the pyramid system.
"The finances Brora and Kelty spent, for them to have what they've worked for taken away, it's a waste of a season for them.
"They've showed great ambition and they've got great facilities.
"Our chairman [George Watson] has been really busy behind the scenes, the pitch is looking great, the training facilities have been fixed up.
"We are a small team with great facilities and a big ambition as well, but we seem to be getting held back because nobody is looking after what's best for Scottish football, more looking after what's best for themselves.
"For something to get knocked back as quickly as it has, it makes a mockery of it.
"As long as that continues nothing will change."
There is potential for the pyramid to be overlooked once again next season as the SPFL are considering a merged League One and Two if a majority of clubs choose to hibernate for a year in light of the Covid-19 crisis.
It is almost certain no clubs from outside the SPFL would be granted promotion if those circumstances were to arise.
And McMenamin said: "That would be a real shame - but it won't stop us having ambition.
"It's not going to be short-term we are looking at, we are looking to the next four or five years.
"We want to progress as a team and make our way up the leagues as quickly as we can."
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