Following the conclusion of the various play-off competitions the final lineup of the ten clubs who will participate in the SPFL League 2 next season has been confirmed.
Dumbarton managed to escape the dreaded drop following success in the League 1 Play-offs, consigning Edinburgh City, Elgin City and Stranraer in the process to another season in the fourth tier.
In the Pyramid Play-Offs, Kelty Hearts move up from the Lowland League at the expense of Brechin City.
The ten clubs who will commence their 36 match programme all going well on July 31st will therefore be;-
Albion Rovers
Annan Athletic
Cowdenbeath
Edinburgh City
Elgin City
Forfar Athletic
Kelty Hearts
Stenhousemuir
Stirling Albion
Stranraer
Back to the outcome of yesterday’s second leg of the Pyramid Play-off final.
While we bid welcome to Kelty Hearts and look forward to meeting them both on and off the park in the new season, the relegation of our near neighbours and great friends Brechin City following their 3-1 aggregate defeat is not only a crushing blow to all concerned at Glebe Park, but also to football in Angus.
Both on and off the park, City and the ‘Loons’ have had a healthy relationship and respect for one another which spans the lifetime of all currently involved and in fact all who are taking the time to read these comments.
Brechin have over the years also contributed in many a way to the overall well being of the game both locally and nationally and in an administrative sense at the very top table of the game worldwide into the bargain.
City will now have to re-organise and get ready for a season of Highland League football, no easy task, taking many a factor, not the least the logistical problems into account.
According to their own website, big changes are afoot behind the scenes up at Glebe Park and to those officials departing the scene, thanks for your friendships over many years as both clubs have in many ways strived to beat the odds and remain a force at our own level in the game.
To those about to take over the reins at Brechin, you do so with our best wishes for the future and hopefully a speedy return to SPFL action.
To the present and Kelty’s success following on from the arrival on the SPFL scene and progression of Edinburgh City and of course in particular Cove Rangers over the past couple of seasons is, without doubt, a warning shot by the way to all the clubs in the lower echelons of the SPFL structure as it stands.
Throughout the country, non-league sides are being galvanised into action to attempt to reach the ‘promised land' of SPFL football, through in the first instance success in the Highland or Lowland League.
Many of these clubs also seem to have considerable financial backing from within their ranks.
Of course, the spectre of re-organisation of the bottom tier of the SPFL remains it would appear on the table, but certainly, despite rumours aplenty, no firm proposal has been put before the clubs for consideration.
Whether the pyramid play-off should have gone ahead in this truncated season just completed will remain a bone of contention with many, but there again on the other side of the coin, others will say it should have gone ahead last season when it did not take place!
As we look forward to a new season, one can only hope that the rules within the game concerning Covid continue to be relaxed over the next six weeks or so. Certainly south of the border this would appear on the surface to be the case.
It has been said many times that football at our level was privileged to be allowed to continue albeit in a reduced format this past season.
That may be true, but many managers, coaches and administrators throughout the leagues, some of whom have openly admitted the fact paid a heavy price ‘mentally’ steering their ‘ships’ in the right direction throughout.
This has of course been the case in many a business large or small throughout the country but football rest assured was no exception.
Forfar Athletic will also have to work hard to overcome the ‘sair dunt’ of relegation, but thankfully we have pulled through the worst it would appear of the pandemic thanks to good husbandry and the rewards late in the season of our cup run, in reasonable financial health.
Hopefully come mid-July, with fans back in Station Park, the smiles will return to faces and rest assured all involved at the ‘coal face’ at the club are working hard to make sure this is the case.
Thanks for your continued support.
