Rangers legend Barry Ferguson is on the verge of creating history with Kelty Hearts – and getting retribution over the SPFL in the process.
The former Ibrox skipper is the manager of the Scottish Lowland League Champions and has guided them to an SPFL League Two playoff with Brechin City.
Fergie, 43, has been in charge of Kelty since 2018 and now stands 90 minutes from a place in the SPFL and League Two after beating the City 2-1 in the first leg of the playoff.
Having already beaten Brora Rangers against the odds to reach this stage, this Sunday they will play it out for a place in the 42-member club pyramid and all they need to do is avoid defeat.
This success would come after two seasons of wrangling with the SPFL and a campaign to have these playoffs abandoned this season.
Brechin – safe in the knowledge they were likely the League Two club set to be involved in the playoff – railed against the prospective tie calling the playoffs “unfair” and calling for reconstruction [BCFC].
However, the SPFL would move to preserve the Scottish football pyramid and the playoffs have since gone ahead.
This comes after the playoffs were abandoned last season by the controversial end-of-season SPFL vote amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many – Rangers included – felt that the governance of the SPFL didn’t properly represent the interests of the pyramid or the clubs as they relegated teams after an incomplete season.
Playoffs across all divisions were scrapped as part of the vote.
Last season’s lowland league champs – Ferguson’s Kelty Hearts – were then denied a playoff against Brora and club 42 – unsurprisingly Brechin – were saved a spot in League Two.
Lowland League side Bonnyrigg Rose claimed that the SPFL had “ignored rules” to make the decision.
Now, Ferguson sits on the verge of history and retribution and the ex-Ibrox skipper has revealed he won’t be taking the foot off the gas this weekend.
“We just need to look forward to Sunday and we’ll go to Brechin to win the game,” said Ferguson [Edinburgh Evening News].
“There’s pressure on Brechin, they’re playing to stay in the SPFL but there’s pressure on us because we’re playing to make history.”
Rangers fans everywhere will be hoping Ferguson makes history with his side this weekend with the match set to kick off at 3pm Sunday the 23rd of May.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans have been left fuming after pre-trophy day communications with the Scottish Government proved the club did take considerable steps to prevent mass gatherings.
