Brora Rangers defender Grant Munro will not make a return to the SPFL if the Cattachs earn promotion to League 2.
The 34-year-old former Caley Thistle and Ross County player will miss Saturday’s semi-final second leg against Edinburgh City as his parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, but is determined to do all he can to help the Sutherland club earn promotion.
The winners of Saturday’s match – the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw – will face League 2’s bottom club Montrose in a double headers.
But Munro will not be returning to senior football next season and said: “It’s not for me. I will be 35 in a couple of months time.
“If Brora do go up I will probably look for another Highland League club. I have a young family and work nine to five during the week, I’m no longer a full-time professional footballer and have to think of my kids.
“I’m not a 21-year-old with no responsibilities, but I will definitely give my all, like the rest of the players, if we manage to set up a double-header against Montrose.
“As you saw at Meadowbank last Saturday, everybody is really keen and nobody could question their commitment.
“Some have recently called the integrity of our players into question, that really was disrespectful, and I think the performance we put on in the first leg of the play-off showed just how much we all care.”
Munro will not be in the team to face Edinburgh on Saturday. He said: “My mum and dad are both going to be 60 this year and they will be celebrating 40 years of marriage so the whole family are going to a lodge in Perthshire for the week.
“It is unfortunate that it coincided with the second-leg of the play-off with Edinburgh City, but we have players who can come in and definitely do a job for us this Saturday.
“I missed a couple of months earlier on in the season and the team coped easily without me, so I have no qualms about that, I’m sure we will go on an put on another good show this weekend.
“It was a good, open game on a difficult pitch at Meadowbank. We had most of the possession and created the better chances, but after going a goal behind we were happy enough with a 1-1 draw.”