Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay has questioned how Brechin City have been given a “free pass” by the SPFL ending the season.
The resolution passed by SPFL clubs will see Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer – the bottom teams in the top three divisions – all relegated, but no such punishment will be handed out to Brechin at the foot of League Two.
The SPFL scrapped the end-of-season play-offs, which would have given Highland League champions Brora and Lowland League winners Kelty Hearts the opportunity to play for a place in League Two. They then saw reconstruction talks collapse before a vote was taken, with Premiership clubs asserting they would not vote for it.
“We’ve been left in limbo in relation to having the play-offs taken away from us, then having the reconstruction option taken away from us,” said Mackay. “I don’t think it’s right for the SPFL to relegate Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer and Brechin get a free pass.
“You’ve got to earn your right to get into a league first and foremost, which ourselves and Kelty have done, but you have to earn your right to remain at that level.
“Brechin haven’t really done that this season. There has to be consequences for that. Normally there would be a play-off but with that taken away, reconstruction would have been a sensible option. Now that’s been quashed it leaves a bit of a sour taste.
“We’re at the bottom of the footballing food chain but it’s frustrating that we’ve not been considered in any of this. The whole sporting integrity issue has not really been taken into consideration at all. The whole system has lost a huge amount of credibility by making that decision.
“It’s something we’re appealing and the chairman is trying to get some support; we’re going with a combined effort, ourselves and Kelty, to get our voices heard and whether or not that will make any impact, remains to be seen.”
Brora were the first Highland League team to compete in the pyramid play-off, losing over two legs against Montrose in 2015. They, however, have made no secret of their intent to progress to the Scottish leagues.
“That was the whole point of bringing in the pyramid in the first place,” added Mackay. “No team has a divine right to play at that level and for years, teams were given a free pass if you like, with no pressure on them to finish outwith that bottom place. As a club, your pride would always be dented by finishing bottom but financially and stature-wise, nothing changed.
“There has to be accountability and an outcome when you finish bottom of a league, whether that’s a play-off or automatic relegation. For the SPFL to relegate the bottom team in the other three leagues and for nothing to happen to Brechin, it leaves no credibility for the decision or the decision-makers.
“How can they see that as a balanced and fair outcome? It’s completely unfair for that position not to be challenged, through a play-off or reconstruction.
“I’m sure it doesn’t sit well with many in Scotland, let alone ourselves and Kelty.”
Brora will continue to fight their corner until it is confirmed they have no chance of appearing in the SPFL next season.
Mackay was a backer of league reconstruction and has suggested an alternative of playing the pyramid play-off at the start of the next campaign, whenever that may be.
“We’ve both won our leagues, ultimately by default but we’re still league champions, and the door is closed for the play-offs,” said Mackay. “But to not then consider the reconstruction, that’s ridiculous. To me, that’s the only fair and balanced way to do it.
“If that’s not available, they have to give us an opportunity to play in a play-off. Whether that’s at the start of the season or not, I don’t know.
“Then play Brechin and if they defeat that team, they’ve earned the right to stay in League Two. If they lose, then it’s just a natural conclusion to a process that’s been in place for years.
“It paints Scottish football in such a poor light. People from the outside looking in must be cringing at the decisions that are being made, the statements that are going out and all the underhandedness that’s going on. I just don’t think it paints a good picture for our game.”
