Brora vow to fight on against SPFL after vote

BRORA RANGERS chairman William Powrie insists the Highland League champions will refuse to accept their hopes of promotion to the SPFL have been ‘extinguished’ by ‘condescending’ Premiership clubs.

The decision by top-flight teams on Friday to kibosh reconstruction talks left Brora and Lowland League counterparts Kelty Hearts with a ‘sour taste’ as it dashed their dreams of making the step-up to the senior leagues.

In a joint statement, they branded the move a ‘dark moment for the SFA pyramid’ and said they would seek clarity on the ability of the SPFL to make changes to the pyramid play-off without agreement from the SFA and fifth-tier governing bodies.

Powrie said: “I wish to let our fans and followers know that, despite the breakdown of the restructuring talks when escalated to the [Premiership] clubs, we will still be continuing our canvassing for the natural justice that both Kelty Hearts and ourselves deserve.

“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.

“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.

“This mess which Scottish Football finds itself in will eventually have to be sorted – and it will be – and the collateral damage repaired.

“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.”