Skipper Jason Jarvis confident Edinburgh City will see the job through
Edinburgh City captain Jason Jarvis insists he and his team-mates are under no illusions just how big tomorrow's clash with Brora Rangers is.
The Citizens welcome the Highland League champions to Meadowbank for the return leg of their Pyramid play-off with the tie finely poised at 1-1 after last weekend's first-leg encounter at Dudgeon Park.
Michael McIndoe's men finished bottom of League Two after 36 games, however their plight wasn't helped by a 15-point deduction imposed last August for an insolvency event under SPFL rules.
Had they not received such a heavy sanction, the club would have finished eighth in Scottish football's fourth tier.
And while midfielder Jarvis is confident City will see the job through, he remains mindful of the threat Brora pose to their SPFL status.
"They are a decent side, the 25-year-old said. "I think they were good in a lot of positions and have some decent experience in the squad. Their catchment area for players is a bit more niche, but sometimes that can be a good thing because people who live up there who have experienced playing at a higher level in their careers can add real value. The Highland League is really tough to win so it shows what a good side they are.
"It was chaos at times last weekend, but we started to create a bit more in the final third and missed a few chances. I think overall we're just glad we're still in the tie. Obviously we play on artificial pitches mostly so the conditions were quite tricky but I thought we dealt with them pretty well.
"I think that the gaffer was pretty pleased, too. We just need to take care of ourselves and focus on the second leg this weekend.
"We've got a really good chance to stay up come Saturday. I mean it's not a position we want to find ourselves in. We never imagined we'd be here as we had aspirations of the promotion play-offs or challenging for the title itself before a ball was kicked.
"We know how big a game this is and what's at stake. It's our job to see it through and ensure we are an SPFL club next season.
"You only have to look at what's below and how tough it is for teams in the Lowland League. I don't feel any extra pressure as captain, we all have a responsibility to do our best for this club. I will try my best to motivate the players but I won't need to, everyone is right up for it."
Jarvis believes should City retain their League Two berth for the 2026/2027 campaign, supporters should be excited about what this young and vibrant side can achieve after the summer break.
"We have had a number of key players missing for large parts of the season, which hasn't helped," Jarvis said. "But we also know that performances since January haven't been good enough, despite getting off to a really good start. Of course the points deduction was a really big blow, and we wouldn't be in this position if it hadn't happened. But that's not something we as players can control. We just have to do our talking on the park.
"I think we'll all take some time to reflect before getting ready to go again after the break. It's been a tough season so recharging the batteries is needed. We can then have a real go next season."