Scottish clubs have voted through plans to create a Lowland League ahead of an anticipated pyramid system coming into effect.
Teams from the East of Scotland League, South of Scotland League and Junior FAs will now meet on Monday to discuss who will be invited into the new division, which could be operational in time for the 2013/14 season.
Scottish Football League clubs will vote on their own league reconstruction plans on Wednesday which could lead to a play-off involving the bottom team in the Third Division and the winner of a tie between the champions of the Highland and Lowland Leagues being implemented in 2014/15.
If those plans fail, the Lowland League may be put back one year. Should Wednesday's vote be successful, the new member clubs of the division will hold their first meeting on June 24.
It is expected between 10 and 16 teams will take part in the competition, with licensed sides Preston Athletic, Spartans and Threave Rovers automatically invited.
Other successful applicants are not expected to hold the relevant Scottish FA licence to participate immediately but will be required to meet the criteria by the end of the 2014/15 season.
"The unanimous approval of the Scottish Lowland Football League is a major step forward for league reconstruction," re-elected Scottish FA president Campbell Ogilvie said in a statement.
"The members clearly share our view that we need to create opportunities for those clubs currently outwith the senior set-up to aspire to emulate the success of Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County on a meritocracy."