Legal move as Brora’s cup axe fury boils over
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BRORA Rangers are to consider taking legal action against the Highland Football League unless the club is reinstated in the Highland League Cup.
It follows a decision taken at an emergency meeting of the HFL on Monday night to expel the team from the cup for fielding an ineligible player.
Youngster Liam Watt came on in Brora’s 3-0 victory over Clachnacuddin in the preliminary round earlier this month.
By a majority vote the committee decided to award the tie to Clach – a decision which has angered Brora Rangers club chairman John Young.
He said: "Liam was brought on in the dying minutes of the game. Brora were winning 3-0 at the time. We later discovered that the player was not properly registered, due to an oversight by the club, the first such occurrence in over 20 years.
"While we fully accept this oversight, it is only right to expect any sanction to be fair.
"This decision simply beggars belief. We have been subject to a decision being made behind closed doors.
"We are even denied the basic right to appeal by both the HFL and SFA (Scottish Football Association). There is no justice in this whatsoever.
"This is about fair play in sport. We have sought legal advice and will be asking the HFL to revoke its decision.
"We fully intend to take this all the way – our players, management and supporters deserve nothing less."
The club have instructed a solicitor, who has written to HFL president Finlay Noble, demanding that the decision is rescinded.
The Northern Times asked Mr Noble if there was a precedent within the HFL for this level of sanction? He said: "Not in the Highland Cup. This has not happened before."
He went on to say that because this occurrence was not covered in the HFL’s rules, the committee decided to follow Scottish Football Association Scottish Cup rules.
He said: "We had a lengthy discussion on this. A vote was taken by the representatives of the clubs who were able to attend.
"Clachnacuddin were obviously excluded from voting, as were Deveronvale and Rothes, as they were due to play Brora in future rounds."
Asked whether representatives of the clubs still involved in the cup were also excluded, Mr Noble said: "We took advice on this and it is within our constitution that they would be allowed to vote."
The Northern Times understands that 15 clubs were represented at Monday’s meeting. Wick, Cove and Keith did not attend.
With Brora, Clach, Rothes and Deveronvale excluded, the remaining 11 representatives took part in the vote. Of those 11, six remain within the competition – Nairn, Lossiemouth, Forres, Huntly, Inverurie and Buckie.
In his letter to Mr Noble, the club’s solicitor asks that the decision to expel them from the competition is immediately revoked. Failing that, they would be considering the route of court action.
Among several points raised he says that: "In terms of Rule 14 of the rules, members are not entitled to vote on any issue before the management committee when the club they represent is still involved in the competition."
He claims other clubs who have committed more serious offences were only fined or a replay organised.
He said if the six teams remaining in the cup had not been allowed a vote, there might not have been a quorum and it was doubtful that the decision would stand..
