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Brora Rangers say killing league reconstruction off is dark moment for pyramid system


By Will Clark

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HIGHLAND League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts have announced their extreme disappointment being denied the chance to be promoted to the Scottish League.

Brora Rangers will remain in the Highland League. Picture Callum Mackay
Brora Rangers will remain in the Highland League. Picture Callum Mackay

Plans to reconstruct the Scottish League which would have allowed both teams promotion were killed off after Premiership clubs failed to offer their support to the SPFL Reconstruction Task Force.

It follows 81 per cent of SPFL clubs voting to scrap the play-offs after ending the season for the Championship, League One and League Two last month, denying both Brora and Kelty the chance of promotion.

In a joint statement from both clubs, they said it was a dark moment for the pyramid system.

It says: "It is with extreme disappointment that we learned that SPFL Reconstruction talks have collapsed.

"This represents a dark moment for the SFA Pyramid with the tier five champion clubs Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts being prevented the opportunity of at the very least a play off and possible promotion. Whilst SPFL team 42 has their place in the SPFL secured despite being the bottom team out of the 42 clubs, yet three other clubs Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer are all left unfairly punished in our opinion."

It continued: "Today's events leave another sour taste following recent instances of the Lowland League being pressured by the SPFL into potential rule change that was proposed to the SPFL by Brechin City and their chairman Ken Ferguson who sits on the SPFL board that rule change would have benefitted Brechin City upon any possible relegation out of the SPFL.

"We sincerely hope that the SPFL once again show respect and commitment to the SFA football pyramid like we and all the member clubs have at tiers five and below.

"Naturally we will be seeking and taking advice on board and we will ask for some answers, mainly to the SPFL four way agreement rule whereby any change to the Pyramid Play Off would have to be agreed by all four parties, the SFA, SPFL SLFL and SHFL we would very much like clarity on that rule."

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