Brora Less - The oncoming storm for the SPFL

It pays to know a problem ahead of time. And one big problem is about to appear over the next few weeks. You might not hear about it. You might not even know of some of the participants in it. But it promises to shake the system to its core.

The problem is a fairly simple one. When the SFL became the SPFL, relegation was brought into the bottom tier beginning this season as one of the trade offs made when incorporating the Highland and Lowland Leagues. It was a concept put together off the hood but it was a change that was very much needed. So far, so good.

It was weighted heavily in favour of the incumbent league side. The “relegated” side would enter a playoff system where, over a two legged playoff, they would play the winners of a playoff between the winners of the Lowland and Highland Leagues. Again, so far, so good (albeit, it took a long time for the SPFL to confirm even these details).

The problem is that, because of how the system is set up, what happens when one of the lower league winners don’t want to or can’t go forward?

On paper, Brora Rangers are certainly good enough to take that step forward. They have money in the bank and are run as if they are a reincarnation of Gretna, albeit slightly more stable. Their side is peppered with Premiership players such as Grant Munro and Stuart Kettlewell who have recent top tier experience. But…

Brora Rangers don’t want to be a league side. They simply want to be the dominant force in the Highland League. There’s a couple of reasons for this - Brora is a small village further north than any other league club. The economies of supporting them in the Highland League are very different to those of supporting them in League Two and the choice is to be made “by the fans”.

While fans appreciate there is a bit of a difference between the furthest away trip being Cove and having to go to Annan and Berwick (before you take into account that, of League Two sides, Elgin would be the only one not further from Brora than the furthest Highland League side), to say the decision is up to them is, perhaps, a stretch. Brora’s ground isn’t up to standard - as in it doesn’t even have the right standard of floodlights. Nor, for that matter do the club actually seem like they want to do much to rectify their shortcomings.

Which leaves the SPFL in a real bind as the participants of the 42nd team playoff are more or less set - Edinburgh City are Lowland League champions already, Montrose are all but certain to be bottom of League Two and Brora may not be champions yet but with an 8 point league and goal difference of +112, it’d be fair to call them a sure thing. There is no mechanism to allow Turriff, currently second in the Highland League, to take Brora’s place so it leaves four scenarios. Scenario One is where Brora just don’t participate, giving Edinburgh City a bye and justified by Brora not meeting minimum requirements. Scenario Two is they play in the playoffs and are beaten fair and square, likely the preferred option for the SPFL. Scenario Three is that Brora play, win but Montrose remain in League Two by default as Brora don’t meet minimum requirements. Scenario Four is that Brora play, win and are given time to meet requirements, postponing the issue for a season in the hope they get their act together.

None of these scenarios are especially good and would leave one (or two) sides with legitimate complaints. If Brora Rangers don’t want to get their act together to get in the league then there is a potentially very embarrassing situation about to be foisted on the SPFL where they either deny a side a promotion they feel is earned or give a side a promotion who don’t actually want the thing. It may not have been predictable, but this situation was avoidable.

But it’s too late now for an end of season farce to be avoidable. Either Brora fall into line or one of reconstruction’s best points will be dead on arrival.