Rovers handed league lifeline
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
BUCKIE Rovers have been handed an eleventh hour Superleague lifeline ahead of their last game of the season away to Hermes on Saturday.
Dufftown’s 3–2 win at home to Deveronside on Tuesday meant that Rovers would have had to win on the road – a feat they have not achieved all season – and hope their Speyside opponents drew or lost.
However, there was to be light at the other end of the tunnel from that very same part of the world when Spey Valley Utd, the McBookie.com Division 1 West champions.
A statement on the NJFA website today said: "The rule book of the Association says that should a club that wins the First Division not be able to accept promotion, then the runners of the division (in this case, Montrose Roselea) will play-off against the club that finishes second bottom in the Superleague at a neutral venue.
"So that’s what will happen. The date and venue for the match will be determined when the second bottom team in the Superleague has been confirmed.
"With regards to the other play-off match, that will take between the runners up of the First Division East (Sunnybank) and the team that finishes in 12th place in the Superleague, with the current Superleague club having home advantage. Again the date will be determined when the 12th place club has been confirmed."
Welcoming the news, Rovers boss Dave Findlay added: "We’ve got a tough game against Hermes coming up, but it’s one I’m convinced we have what it takes to win it.
"The boys know what they have to do."
The match is due to kick off at 2pm.
