Bonnyrigg sweat over league placings when season is called
Bonnyrigg Rose face an anxious wait to learn if they will be confirmed runners-up of this season’s Lowland League - and a potential pathway to the SPFL.
The Scotsman understands league leaders Kelty Hearts will be declared champions following the Lowland League board’s decision to call the season, with an announcement expected early next week.
Clubs in Scottish football’s fifth tier were informed on Thursday of the board’s intention to finalise the 2020/2021 season on a points per game basis.
For Robbie Horn’s Rose, who currently occupy fourth in the standings, should the final placings be determined on a points-per-game basis, Bonnyrigg would finish joint secondalongsidetwo-timechampions East Kilbride. But, as a differentiator, it is the board's preference to use goal difference and that would see Rose drop to third behind Kilby.
And, in a separate twist, SPFL clubs will now meet on
Tuesday to discuss the expansion of League Two next season to 16 teams - two clubs from both the Lowland and Highland Leagues (champions and runners-up) in addition to Rangers and Celtic B teams. A vote on the proposal is expected next month.
Lowland League clubs now have until tomorrow to submit any feedback to the board regarding the proposal to finalise the season.
Bonnyrigg club spokesman Brendan Parkinson said: “We have no arguments whatsoever with Kelty being champions so that is not an issue. And normally second wouldn’t mean a whole lot either but this year it does.
“If the league is to be expanded then they will take the top two from the Lowland, which would also get you a bye in the Scottish Cup. Plus, there is potentially another opening into the Betfred Cup too so it’s a big deal.
“We will air our comments to the board but whether or not they take us up on them is another matter. We don’t see how they can use the goal difference metric when clubs have played a different number of games and some haven’t even faced one another.
"All this could mean nothing if the vote to extend the league isn't passed but we won't know that for a few weeks."