Brora Rangers chairman William Powrie has urged the SPFL to revive his and Kelty Hearts’ promotion dream by reviving the end of season play-offs.
The Highland League and Lowland League champions are destined to remain in their respective leagues after talks aimed at league reconstruction collapsed on Friday.
The decision not to change the league structure means Brechin City, who finished bottom of League 2, will retain their league status due to the earlier decision to cancel the play-offs for this season.
Despite reconstruction talks being killed off Powrie says his club will continue fighting.
He said: “Our hopes of promotion whilst dented are certainly not extinguished, and one only needs a cursory view of social media to see just how many people around both the Scottish and wider football communities are right behind us in our cause.
“One thing that is for certain, is the swing of the pendulum of emotions as hopes are raised and dashed repeatedly as events unfold almost on a daily basis.
“The latest setback is just an event in time and as condescending as the Premier clubs dismissal of restructuring plans were,
“I have every confidence that natural justice will prevail with either an automatic uplift into the SPFL or the reinstatement of the prematurely cancelled pyramid play-offs.
“I speak almost daily with our friends at Kelty who like us are determined to pursue our cause in a professional manner and make representations to the various governing bodies.
“Regardless of what emerges from the SPFL egm this extremely draining saga has plenty of legs left in it yet and it’s important we all remain considered and positive. We have a compelling case to make, and I will continue to do so.”
Powrie can understand the desire of Premiership clubs to look after their own interests but he is dismayed at the lack of clarity offered by Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack who spoke on behalf of top flight clubs following Friday’s meeting.
“He said: “I would like to place on record my thanks to (Highland League secretary) Rod Houston who represented the SHFL interests on the restructuring work group, but as it transpired its efforts were always going to be a sideshow as long as there was not even a willingness for some Premier clubs to look further than their own interests.
“I absolutely understand why these clubs are worried and concerned about their own issues, but I struggle to see why a more kindly generous view could not have been shown to the issues of many clubs beneath the Premier League who are now facing into their own very serious issues.
“I take absolutely no comfort from Dave Cormack’s remarks that reconstruction could be revisited.
“Does that mean three weeks, three months or three years? We and many of the other clubs disadvantaged deserved more than that.”