Kelty crowned champions but face a waiting game over bid for League Two
● Lowland League title rivals Bonnyrigg shocked at decision to curtail campaign
Kelty Hearts secretary Garry Grandison admits everyone at the club is now playing a waiting game after the club were crowned Lowland League champions on a points-pergames played metric.
Not only are celebrations on hold because of the current lockdown restrictions, so too are the Fife club’s future plans due to the likely absence of play-offs throughout the leagues.
News of their success came in a statement from the Lowland League that confirmed the competition was over “with immediate effect”. The decision was met with surprise and not to say some dismay at clubs such as secondplaced Bonnyrigg Rose.
They trail Kelty, managed by Barry Ferguson, pictured, by four points and have a game in hand over the newly crowned champions, including one at home against their rivals. Indeed, five of Bonnyrigg’s last six matches are at their own New Dundas Park ground.
It’s understood the club had not expected a decision to be made yesterday. They were shocked to receive word the league season had been curtailed after a Lowland League Board conference call meeting yesterday that included SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.
In normal circumstances Kelty Hearts would now be looking forward to a playoff against Highland League winners Brora Rangers to decide who faces the last side in League Two, currently Brechin City, in a Pyramid Playoff final.
“It wasn’t the way we imagined it would happen,” said Grandison. “We obviously wanted to win it with the guys on the actual park.”
As with all clubs in the league above them, Kelty Hearts must wait for Dundee to make their casting vote on whether the Ladbrokes Championship and Leagues One and Two should be called as they stand, following the same pointsper-games played calculation, and possibly the Premiership to follow. The Dens Park club’s decision could trigger reconstruction talks.
One option is creating a 14-team top-flight and inviting the winners of the Highland and Lowland Leagues to make up the numbers in League Two.
Brorarangersweredeclared Highland League champions on 21 March1, again with several games left to play.
“We really have to hope we fit in somewhere,” said Grandison. “It’s been a long hard fight.
“It wasn’t the way we imagined it would happen. We obviously wanted to win it with the guys on the actual park”
GARRY GRANDISON
Bonnyrigg Rose have had a fantastic season, as have BSC Glasgow. These teams have invested in the playing side and they’ve also invested time and effort to build their clubs up to be something special and get the chance to get to another level. If we were to miss out on that it would stick in the throat.
“We have to hope that it will still happen,” Grandison continued. “The reason you play football is to progress. It is now just a waiting game – we are in the same boat as every club, from Celtic down to clubs in the East of Scotland league. It trickles right down. There has been big investment in the Pyramid – we just hope that ventilation is maintained.”
Grandison learned the news that Kelty Hearts were champions while working from home. He received a call from Caledonian Braves owner Chris Ewing to congratulate him on his club’s success. While noting there are more important matters to concentrate on at present, Kelty Hearts later released a statement accepting the decision.
“The manager Barry Ferguson,
his staff and most of all the players have put in tremendous effort, skill and sacrifices since May last year and throughout the season, they have performed at a consistent level over the season played and have been top of the Lowland League for the majority,” it said.
“On that basis we accept the board’s call in being crowned the Lowland League champion club for 19/20.”
Bonnrigg Rose aren’t likely to find the decision as agreeable. They are expected to release a statement today underlining their grievances.
A statement from the Lowland league read: “The board of the SLFL have today decided to end the league competition with immediate effect.
“The board took into account the points per game average based on the standings at the cessation of football on the 13th March, and as such have declared that Kelty Hearts are this season’s champion club.
“Furthermore, the board would like to make it clear that it feels that no member club should be disadvantaged by the current health crisis we face, and as such there will be no relegation from the SLFL in season 2019/20.”
The league added it was “aware of the implications” for the East of Scotland and South of Scotland leagues, which feed into the Lowland League, and would announce “contingency plans to cover this in due course”. A West of Scotland League is due to start next season with 68 applications submitted.