Spartans miss out on place in SFL

Posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

Spartans have failed in a bid to join the Scottish Football League after Annan Athletic won today’s vote at Hampden. 

A minimum of 15 votes were required to win the election and gain entry to the Third Division, and three rounds of voting were needed at the special general meeting before Annan’s place was confirmed. Annan polled 17 votes in the final round, with Cove Rangers their closest challengers on 12 votes.

Spartans were third overall, but dropped out of the running after the second ballot with six votes.  Spartans received five votes in the first round, after which Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic dropped out.

Annan Athletic, Cove Rangers, Spartans, Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic and Cove Rangers had applied to take the place left vacant by Gretna, who went out of business after being relegated from the Scottish Premier League.

Craig Graham, the Spartans chairman, said: “Obviously we are disappointed. We will never find out why we only got five votes in the first ballot, but there’s nothing we can do. We gave it our best shot, but  we came up short.

“Spartans would like to congratulate Annan Athletic and wish them all the best in the Scottish Football League. Annan are a strong, well-organised and forward-thinking club and I am sure they will make a positive contribution to the SFL. One day, we hope to join them.

“There is still a lot to look forward to at Spartans. The Spartans Community Football Academy at Ainslie Park will be ready by the end of September; we have bolstered our first-team squad and hope to challenge for the East of Scotland League title; we have a new reserve team coaching set-up; we will be fielding a ladies team in the Scottish Women’s Premier League for the first time; and we will continue to develop and expand our youth system and work with the local community in north Edinburgh.”