Brora chairman William Powrie is not giving up on the club’s ambition of promotion to League Two despite the SPFL recommending the pyramid play-off is cancelled.
The SPFL board’s proposal to member clubs involves the ending of Championship, League One and League Two seasons, with placings decided on a points per game basis.
Although the proposal involves promotion for the winners of each division, all play-offs throughout all four leagues would be cancelled.
The resolution requires the backing of 75% of clubs in each division in order to be passed, with the result expected next week.
Brora have already been crowned Highland League champions, and would be due to face the winners of the Lowland League, which Kelty Hearts lead. The winner would take on the bottom League Two club, currently Brechin City.
Although that route into the SPFL could be thwarted, the league body has outlined a commitment to “consulting with clubs over the possibility of league restructuring” in a statement released yesterday.
Among the models suggested has been a league expansion which would involve Brora and Kelty being automatically promoted to ultimately form a 14-team Premiership, and Powrie is refusing to lose hope.
Powrie said: “I think it would be premature to say it has ended our hope.
“I prefer to look at it positively. With the play-offs being cancelled, you can look at that in two ways.
“We are either a step nearer getting SPFL membership, or the door is closed.
“The SPFL have said reconstruction will be discussed, so until such time as they decide what model of restructuring they are looking to do, there’s not very much I can say on this occasion.
“It’s very much a watching brief. We just hope they decide in such a way that we are escalated up the pyramid system.”
As winners of the Highland League, Powrie accepts Brora’s fate is outwith their own hands, adding: “We have no input into that decision at all, so we are very much on the outside of the tent looking in.
“We are at the behest of others. The SPFL clubs have a few days to decide what they are going to do.
“We can only hope when the dice are thrown they come up in our favour.”
The cancellation of all play-offs would see Caley Thistle, who are second in the Championship at present, miss out on promotion.
Should the proposal go through, the Highlanders’ hopes of gaining a Premiership place next term would rest fully on talks over league reconstruction.
The Highlanders trail Championship leaders Dundee United by 14 points, with the Tannadice outfit standing to gain promotion to the Premiership should clubs vote in favour of the proposal.
Bottom club Partick Thistle would be relegated from the Championship, with the Jags insisting they will “simply not accept this proposal as it stands.”
Raith Rovers would be promoted as champions of League One, with bottom-placed Stranraer suffering relegation.
Cove Rangers would win promotion as champions of League Two, with the absence of play-offs ensuring Brechin City avoid being demoted.
