Spartans positive as D-Day for entry to Scottish League looms large

13 April 2012

Edinburgh club Spartans are confident of surviving a late scare over the suitability of their facilities to secure election to the SFL today.


The ambitious outfit will learn their fate during a special general meeting at Hampden alongside rival bidders Annan Athletic, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Cove Rangers.

Spartans, whose new £3.5million stadium is set to be completed by mid-September, have long been favourites to replace Gretna.

Rangers boy: former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has backed Cove Rangers to step up into the SFL

Following site inspections at each ground, however, they were ranked fourth out of five in the criteria laid down by the SFL - receiving zero marks in 11 out of 15 judging categories - and were the only bidding club asked to fill out a special 25-point questionnaire to ease concerns over crowd capacity and the safety of match officials.

If successful, they have agreed to use Meadowbank Stadium for the first round of league fixtures until mid-December and chairman Craig Graham said they still hope to come out top in today's vote.

He said: 'We have talked to a lot of the clubs and they have been enthusiastic about what we would bring to the SFL. So we are excited about the outcome.

'We would be a capital club for the SFL and I think that would be good for attracting sponsorship to the leagues. But, whatever happens, there is an exciting future ahead for Spartans.'

Annan, rated the best-equipped side to immediately join the Third Division, say funding is now in place to install floodlights before the start of the season.

Former Scotland boss Alex McLeish last night threw his weight behind Cove Rangers' bid.

'I've got a soft spot for Cove and I'd love to see them in the Scottish set-up because I think they have a lot to offer,' said the Birmingham boss. 'They are run by superb people and would be a credit to the league.'

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