finished top and were promoted alongside Forfar Athletic as play-off winners.
Dumbarton as champions of the 2008–09 season were directly promoted to the 2009–10 Scottish Second Division.
They were replaced by Stranraer who finished bottom of the 2008–09 Scottish Second Division.
A second promotion place was available via a play-off tournament between the ninth-placed team of the 2008–09 Scottish Second Division, Queen's Park, and the sides ranked second, third and fourth in the 2008–09 Scottish Third Division, Cowdenbeath, East Stirlingshire and Stenhousemuir respectively.
were demoted to the Third Division, leading to an extra promotion being awarded.