Elgin City chairman Graham Tatters says the guarantee of a home tie against either Caley Thistle or Buckie Thistle will soften the blow at Saturday’s SPFL Trust Trophy tie against Dunfermline being cancelled.
The Pars withdrew from the competition after notifying the SPFL that they were unable to fulfil the fixture due to an insufficient number of players, caused by members of their squad self-isolating, injured or on international duty.
Consequently the Black and Whites, who were due to host the tie at Borough Briggs this weekend, have been awarded a 3-0 victory, following 2-1 triumph over Hibernian B in the previous round.
The @SPFL board has awarded a 3-0 win to @ElginCityFC in this weekend’s SPFL Trust Trophy R2 tie against @officialdafc.
The Pars have informed the SPFL that they will not fulfil the fixture, due to the number of players either self-isolating, injured, or on international duty. pic.twitter.com/we5oT2r8Za
— SPFL Trust (@SPFLTrust) September 2, 2021
Although Tatters is pleased to progress, the Elgin chairman was anticipating a strong crowd for the visit of the Championship Fifers.
Tatters says the third round visit of either Inverness or Buckie on October 9-10 will be equally as lucrative, and he said: “It’s disappointing to win it in that manner, but we will take it. We are not going to complain.
“I suppose the fact it’s a cup game means they have to play them – they can’t afford to hold the rounds up for everybody else.
“Everybody knew the rules anyway, and we just have to get on with it. There is no point in worrying about.
“Dunfermline are a well-supported team, we would have got a good crowd. We had full hospitality so we were looking forward to it.
“We just have to get on with refunding supporters. That’s where the hassle is, of trying to sort all that out.
“It’s great to have a home tie in the next round. Either Caley Thistle or Buckie Thistle would bring a really good crowd.”
An SPFL spokesman said: “Consistent with previous announcements in respect of similar issues in the first round of the SPFL Trust Trophy, the SPFL Board confirmed that any club unable or unwilling to field a team in an SPFL Trust Trophy first or second-round tie will forfeit the match on the basis of a 3-0 defeat.
“Accordingly, Elgin City have been awarded a 3-0 win and will play either Inverness Caledonian Thistle or Buckie Thistle in the third round of the competition next month.”
