Annan Athletic will take near-neighbours Gretna's place in the Scottish Third Division for the new season after pipping Highland League champions Cove Rangers in yesterday’s SFL vote at Hampden.
It took three rounds of voting for the 29 members clubs to finally settle the issue. In the final round Annan won 17 votes to the 12 received by Cove.
Annan and Gretna are separated by fewer than nine miles, but chairman Henry McLelland insists the two clubs are a million miles apart in the way they operate: “It is just sinking in and it has been a long time coming, although we haven't just been working on this for the last couple of months, we have been working on this since 1979.
“We knew what we wanted to do and have built the facility.
“We put forward a totally different business model to Gretna, based on what we are and what we have always been. Our case was based on sound financial footing and a facility we have developed.
“Six years ago when Gretna joined the league they probably had a sustainable model, but it certainly wasn't sustainable for the SPL, and that is clear to us all.
“Our feet are planted on the ground. Thirty years ago we were in the Carlisle and District League, just like Gretna, but we chose to move to the South of Scotland League, and then put our senior side into the East of Scotland League. We have been making progress.”
While former Gretna owner Brooks Mileson was the sole source of funds at Raydale Park, McLelland believes his club will show it is financially independent and said: “As we have developed our ground we have spent up to £400,000 and we don't owe anybody anything. It is all paid for.
“That is the way we work, and we only spend what we can afford, whether we are in the Carlisle and District League or Third Division.”
The Cove Rangers party comprising of chairman Keith Moorhouse, president Alan McRae, director Graeme Reid and Kate Dean, leader of Aberdeen City Council, were disappointed by the outcome.
Moorhouse said: “A lot of people put in an awful lot of hard work. I suppose it is just as well to have gone out in the first round of voting as the last, although I am very proud we picked up 12 votes in the final ballot.
“We have to move forward and it was good to realise we had a lot of support. We have to make sure we are absolutely ready next time around. Another time will come and we will be ready for it.
“We will get back to focusing on the Scottish Highland League and defending our title next season.”
Despite the outcome of the vote, McRae believes events at his club this week still provide cause for celebration.
He said: “We have now signed and sealed the deal with the Aberdeen City Council for the new stadium, so we have got much to look forward to.
“It would have been great to look forward to both the new stadium and Scottish League football, but there is no doubt we will be back.”