MacKinnon says his club will not accept defeat on the issue

Ross County and Dundee have accused the Scottish FA of unfairness after they and Dunfermline Athletic were axed from youth football's top flight.

And they have taken their fight to the Scottish Government after being expelled because of registration rules they say have been unfairly applied.

County director of football George Adams said: "We are looking for an unprejudiced view, complete fairness.

"We are all aware that there are SPL clubs who don't meet the criteria."

County and the Pars failed to meet a SFA rule asking that staff disclosure forms, relating to child protection, be renewed every three years.

But Adams said that his club had been punished because their coach Gary Watt had not been disclosured despite having been on duty with the SFA four times since October.

What we've done is to take the opportunity to look at our youth development position and not only to keep it going but to enhance it Dundee chief executive Dave MacKinnon

"There is a major inconsistency in the application of criteria at performance level," he told BBC Sport.

"You have to look at that and say there's a fair bit of unfairness here.

"The SFA must be totally transparent and act with integrity.

"I don't think in our case, in Dunfermline's case or Dundee's case that that has been the case."

Dundee chief executive David MacKinnon, like Adams, vowed to take the fight to the Scottish Government.

"What we have done is enlisted the help of Joe Fitzpatrick, our local MSP, and, indeed, Stuart Maxwell, the Sports Minister," he told his club website.

The SFA had claimed that Dundee did not meet the requirement of having a second youth licence holder.

"It's quite clear that the decision to demote us was the wrong one and we've evidence to that effect," said MacKinnon.

"We did, indeed, have two licence holders in place."

However, the clubs have been told that there is no right of appeal and feel they have been the victims of a carve up by Scottish Premier League clubs.

Third Division Stenhousemuir are now the only non-SPL outfit within the top flight of youth football.

"It's now escalated to a ministerial matter," said MacKinnon. "We'll allow the politicians to sort it out.

"Because, while the clubs can't challenge the SFA, the Government, who provide the funding, certainly can.

"We've got the backing of the Government, so we're not going to allow it to go away."

MacKinnon said Dundee would not follow other clubs outside the SPL who were scrapping their youth development projects.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to the row over youth football

"What we've done is to take the opportunity to look at our youth development position and not only to keep it going but to enhance it," he said.

Former Dundee United defender John Holt has been appointed head of youth and community development, Paul Ritchie has been appointed under-19 coach, while Gordon Wallace will add support as well as helping the first team.

The club also intends to create new youth operations in Lothian, Lanarkshire and Fife - and create its own academy.