Frustration in Highland League

Speaking on behalf of the Premiership teams, Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “The strong feeling of the group was that we must focus all of our energies on emerging from the crisis we face, due to the pandemic, on getting back to playing football safely and getting fans back into grounds as soon as practicably possible.

“Whilst the group sympathises with the plight of the situation the relegated teams are faced with, it concluded that this is not the right time to consider immediate reconstruction in the midst of a crisis.

“But the group is willing to engage in and pick up on these discussions once we are through Covid-19.”

That leaves Partick and Stranraer dropping to Leagues One and Two respectively while Hearts are facing relegation to the second tier with no sign of the Premiership restarting.

The development is a blow to Dundee and managing director John Nelms, who led the push for league reconstruction during their SPFL ballot stalemate, and also to Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland counterparts Kelty Hearts, who stood to earn a place in an expanded third tier.

A Highland League statement read: “Today’s news that the current work towards SPFL League reconstruction has been brought to an abrupt and arbitrary halt is disappointing and frustrating in equal measure.

“This year, albeit in difficult circumstances, the SPFL had its first opportunity since the introduction of the football pyramid to meaningfully embrace the spirit of the pyramid. It is a matter of great regret that the SPFL has chosen to turn away from that.

“All associated with the Highland League share the undoubted disenchantment that will be felt by Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts.”

Inverness, Falkirk and Edinburgh City, runners-up in their respective divisions, will also rue a lost opportunity, with each club having been slated to move up a league had reconstruction been approved.

League reconstruction for next season is off after Premiership clubs failed to find majority support.

The top-flight clubs met yesterday, joined by Championship winners Dundee United, to discuss the possibility of a revamp in time for next season.

Following Dundee’s crucial voting U-turn last month, the SPFL had set up a 15-strong team to discuss changing the current set-up to prevent Partick Thistle, Stranraer and possibly Hearts being forcibly relegated.

Jambos chief Ann Budge and her counterpart at Hamilton Les Gray were placed in charge of the taskforce.

However, at a meeting between the 12 top-tier sides and United yesterday afternoon, hopes of reconstruction were dashed.

Dave Cormack: Spoke for the Premiership clubs.