Kelty Hearts begin bid to reach SPFL

Junior side Kelty Hearts have announced ambitious plans which they hope will catapult them all the way into the SPFL.

The Super League champions have been admitted to the East of Scotland League for the 2017/18 campaign.

Kelty, who were only formed in 1975, will now become part of the Scottish football “pyramid” process that has already seen Edinburgh City gain admittance to Scottish League 2.

In a statement the Fife club said: “After careful consideration and months of research, we have all agreed the next step for Kelty Hearts FC was to work towards being an SFA Licenced club and become SFA members.

“One of the stipulations before the application was accepted by the SFA board is that we had to sign a declaration to join the pyramid system at tier 6, which is the East of Scotland League.

“We can officially announce that Kelty Hearts Football Club were tonight accepted into the East Of Scotland League for next season 17/18.

“We had our first audit by SFA licencing on Friday May 26th with a decision being made by the SFA in August.

“The move to hopefully become SFA members and to compete in the East of Scotland League next season excited all at the club enormously with an ambition to move up the tier with the ultimate goal for us to be an SFA member club playing in the SPFL.”