League set-up revealed

Question marks over the Covid-19 testing protocols in the top flight of Scottish football could impact on the start date for the other leagues, particularly those outside the SPFL.

However, plans for the new season continue to progress and this week the league set-up in the East of Scotland League was confirmed and clubs now know which league they will contest.

With confirmation that Bo’ness United would be promoted to the Lowland League that meant that Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts’ promotion to the Premier League was also confirmed and they will join fellow Fife clubs Crossgates Primrose, Dundonald Bluebell and Hill of Beath Hawthorn alongside Jeanfield Swifts in the EOSL top flight with the likes of Linlithgow Rose, Camelon and Whitehill Welfare.

Below the Premier League there will once again be two conferences and, following the addition of further clubs from Fife and Perthshire, they have been restructured using last season’s rankings as a starting point.

Conference A will feature new boys Kennoway Star Hearts, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Rosyth and Thornton Hibs as well as St Andrews United and clubs from the Lothians, Borders and Falkirk.

Conference B will be home to Lochgelly Albert, Lochore Welfare and Newburgh along with Perthshire club Luncarty. They join existing EOS clubs, Burntisland Shipyard, Glenrothes, Kinnoull and Oakley United as well as a share other areas.

Thornton manager Craig Gilbert said: “We are disappointed that we are in a different conference to our local rivals Glenrothes but do have Kennoway, St Andrews and Kirkcaldy instead. We knew we were unlikely to get Glens as the leagues were constructed on rankings from last year.

“There are some tough games ahead, but we are looking to get promoted to the Premier League.”

The Memorial Park boss confirmed that Rikki Cooper had left the club to join Kirkcaldy YM and that it was unlikely that Scott Orrock would be returning following his bad injury.

Life in Conference B will involve some lengthy trips for Luncarty but new boss Robbie Holden is itching to get started. He said: “We are ready to start back but haven’t pressed the start button just yet. However, the boys do have their own fitness plans to work to.

“We are fortunate to be in the same conference as our local rivals Kinnoull and Newburgh so there is added local rivalry. However, we face long trips to Eyemouth, Hawick, Peebles and Prestonpans, which the boys haven’t faced for a while, so we will have to adapt to the tests that this gives us.”

There is still a bit of a question mark over which cup competitions will survive with a limited number of dates available, but it is expected that at least the South Region Challenge Cup and Alex Jack Cup will be played. of clubs from the