Brechin City propose Colts league reconstruction with play-offs 'fundamentally unfair'

Brechin City are have written to the SPFL board over the play-offs. Picture: SNS

The Angus club are currently eight points adrift with five games remaining.

If they finish bottom they will have to play the winners of a play-off between Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts.

According to reports, Brechin have written to the SPFL board putting forward their case that it would be “fundamentally unfair” for the play-offs to go ahead on the basis of how few games Brora and Kelty, and compared to how often the Glebe Park side will have played come the play-off matches.

Winners of their respective leagues last year, they were denied the chance of promotion. This time around, with the leagues being called early both were top of their leagues.

Brora had played just three league games, while Kelty had played 13.

Brechin’s letter included: “If your decision is in favour of the play-off going ahead as planned (and we are club 42) we will have no choice but to challenge the decision ourselves and would expect the full support of the SPFL Board through any required arbitration process.”

Brechin want league reconstruction with 12 teams taking part in next season’s League Two with the Daily Record reporting the club are also proposing the winners of next year’s Highland and Lowland League are promoted into League Two with Rangers and Celtic Colts teams taking it to 16 teams.

Brora released a statement this afternoon.

“Following the SPFL board meeting yesterday, I can confirm that Brora Rangers have met all the necessary due diligence and ground criteria for entry into the SPFL,” the club’s chairman William Powrie said.

“At this stage the SPFL however are unable to confirm any dates for the play-off and pyramid fixtures to take place. As soon as we receive notification of the SPFL position/dates we will update you with information.”

Meanwhile, East Stirlingshire, who were the first team to fall out of the SPFL through the play-offs in 2016 have called on Brechin to “dry your eyes”.