The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
ONLYWAYISUPFORCOVE
Highland League champions Cove Rangers can look forward to life in the SPFL next season after demolishing Berwick Rangers 7-0 over two legs in the pyramid play-off final.
The Aberdeen side almost made the step up to Scotland’s senior leagues 12 months ago, only to suffer a painful defeat to Cowdenbeath, coming courtesy of some controversial refereeing decisions when so much was at stake.
Coming so close to realising their SPFL dream but falling at the final hurdle could have had a negative impact on this season’s attempt to join the top tiers of Scottish football.
But there was no hangover with John Sheran and Graeme Mathieson’s side going from strength to strength throughout the season,
losing only one league game on their way to defending their championship crown.
It was always expected that their semi-final play-off match against Lowland League champions East Kilbride would be their toughest challenge on their way to League 2, and so it proved.
A Berwick side that had sacked their manager only two weeks before the play-offs after a dreadful campaign were no match for the Highland League winners.
Cove have made no secret of ambition to move up from the Highland League and test themselves at a higher level.
Now they have made that step to League 2, it is unlikely their ambition is to simply be restricted to simply avoiding demotion back to the Highland League.
Cove, with their new Balmoral Stadium, have the facilities and resources to flourish in the SPFL. The immediate aim for the first season will begin as one of their consolidation but the Cove management team will know that with a couple of shrewd signings over the summer, their squad could well be capable of challenging for promotion further up the leagues.
“There are plenty of reasons to suggest Cove will be very competitive”
Edinburgh City, the first club to achieve promotion through the play-offs in 2016, have taken two seasons to find their feet in League 2 but after seventh and ninth-placed finishes, they were long-term challengers to title winners Peterhead before finishing in the play-offs, where they were unsuccessful in gaining promotion to League 1.
There are plenty of reasons to suggest Cove will also be very competitive in League 2 and a welcome addition to the SPFL.
The Highland League management committee now have a decision to make before the new season commences. Will they opt to start the season with 17 teams or look to find a new addition to the division? A decision is set to be made later this month.
After Cove’s recent dominance, there will be several teams fancying their chances of replacing the Aberdeen side as the top side in north football and an intriguing season awaits.
It is a new chapter for Cove Rangers and the Highland League.