Fort William FC to keep place in Highland League

AFTER months of uncertainty, Fort William Football Club has announced it will remain part of the Highland League next season following a decision from the club’s new board of directors.

In the wake of the resignation of five directors and the appointment of three new board members this week, the club has confirmed that Highland League football will return to Claggan Park next season after a number of drawnout discussions involving club officials, players and volunteers.

The long-term stability of the Lochaber club has looked precarious since the board of directors announced earlier this year that they would be stepping down at the end of the season. As a result, the club was forced to consider its future, both on and off the field, with one option being to drop down a division and join the North Caledonian Football League.

However, this week’s announcement has alleviated any doubts over the club’s future, confirming Fort William’s place in Britain’s most northerly senior football league for the foreseeable future.

A statement from the club released on Tuesday announced the new board’s decision, which read: ‘The decision comes after several lengthy meetings between players, directors, committee members and volunteers – including members of the community who have come forward to support the future running of the club.’

Earlier this year, following ongoing discussion over the club’s future, an appeal was launched to find fresh backers for the club amid growing pressure from Highland League bosses to decide on the club’s league status. The public appeal resulted in numerous members of the community coming forward to pledge their support.

Now, after weeks of consideration, the new board said it is ‘delighted’ to remain in the Highland League, which was only been made possible by the support of the community.

A spokesperson for the board said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to remain in the Highland League next season. This has only been made possible thanks to support from the local business community and new volunteers who have come forward to help with running of the club.

‘Our key task now is to strengthen the squad for next season and build on the support we have so far received from the local community.’

The new board said that planning for next season will get under way shortly.

Secretary of the Highland League Rod Houston has welcomed the news and said he is pleased that the league will retain its only West Highland representative.

Our key task now is to strengthen the squad for next season

I’m pleased they’ve been able to keep going in the Highland League – it’s definitely good news,’ he said.

‘The league had no appetite to lose them and we are all pleased to still have a presence on the West Coast.

‘There was a real will to keep the club in the league.

‘The league has always been here to help and we will continue to do that.’

Mr Houston also praised the footballing community in Fort William for showing the desire to remain in the Highland League and said they should be commended for their efforts to the support the club.

He continued: ‘The bottom line is that the community wanted to keep the club going and to keep them in the Highland League. That’s the main thing. The fact they are committed to continuing is certainly good news and I look forward to working with them in the future.

‘The club should be commended for their work throughout this process.

‘They’ve been very thorough in the way they have gone about finding a solution.’

Fort William finished this year’s Highland League in bottom place and played their last fixture of the season last night (Wednesday May 2) at home to Keith.