Will Clark: How many clubs are eligible for promotion from the Highland League?
PROMOTION from the Highland League is an issue which has received a mixed response since its introduction over a decade ago.
I have found that the desire from clubs, in the north anyway, to make the step up to League Two, was always met with a lukewarm response.
Before last season, winning the Highland League would have guaranteed a play-off with the Lowland League champions, to earn a shot against the team which finished bottom of the League Two.
But since last season, winning the title does not necessarily guarantee a shot at making the step up, as Buckie Thistle found out.
Just two days before they were due to face Lowland League champions East Kilbride, they were told they were not eligible for promotion as they did not hold a bronze level club licence award.
As a result, East Kilbride automatically advanced to the play-off final, but were defeated by Stranraer who retained their place in League Two.
As of this month, the majority of teams in the Highland League and Lowland League are not eligible for promotion to League Two due to not having a bronze licence.
Only four non league teams hold a bronze licence that would qualify them for promotion if they win their division.
In the Highland League, league leaders Brechin City and title challengers Banks O’Dee are the only clubs who meet the requirements for promotion. The other 16 do not.
In the Lowland League, there are also only two teams eligible for promotion, they include currently league leaders East Kilbride and Cumbernauld Colts who are second bottom, With the exception of Celtic B and Hearts B, who are not eligible for promotion due to being colts teams, the other 14 only have an entry licence.
Teams who were in the SPFL before the new legislation came into force who do not hold at least a bronze licence are also not exempt from punishment.
Earlier this month, Bonnyrigg Rose were deducted six points after they were downgraded from a bronze licence to an entry licence due to a slope at their home ground at New Dundas Park.
Heaven forbid Wick Academy ever have designs of playing in the SPFL and trying to solve the gradient at Harmsworth Park.
The League Two play-offs were introduced to give the opportunity to non-league clubs who had aspirations of playing at a higher level the opportunity to do so.
It has been successful with a number of Lowland League clubs making the step up.
Although only Cove Rangers have successfully been promoted from the Highland League, they have reached the Championship, before being relegated to League One.
However, with the goalposts being moved on entry into the SPFL, it does seem to smack of self preservation. If an entry level licence was fine before, why isn’t it now? And for clubs who do have aspirations of promotion, it looks like it will cost them a lot to be part of the gang.
Some clubs will think is it really worth all the bother. Although most won’t come out and say it, there is a feeling in the Highland League that some are happy where they are. The prospect of travelling past Perth for a match doesn’t really appeal to them.
But for those teams who want to make the step up in the future, it looks they will have to stump up if they want to be considered part of the SPFL 42.
