Stranraer chairman Iain Dougan has demolished Charles Green’s claim that Sevco should be promoted into the second tier of Scottish football based on the so-called Stranraer Precedent.
The differences in moving from a three league set up to four compared to a four league set up to three seems obvious to all outwith Ibrox as Scottishfootball clubs
prepare to vote on league reconstruction.
Despite claims of wishing to work their way through the divisions, in-between touting themselves for any league outwith Scotland- Green and Ally McCoist have been touting the view that they should join the second tier in a new 12-12-18 set up ahead of clubs currently in the Second Division.
The Stranaraer Precedent has been getting plenty of air time to justify this argument but in an interview with STV the Stair Park club put that theory to rest.
Dougan said: “We don’t feel it is the same situation as [in 1993/94]. We were expanding the leagues from three to four divisions, this time we’re slimming the leagues. It is not the same scenario.
“I can see where their supporters are coming from and Mr Green has to do what is best for his football club. In theory [in a league of 18] they are not moving any quicker to the SPL, they will still be two years away.
“We are trying to change for the good of Scottish football and you are not going to please everyone. We discussed the matter as a board but leapfrogging us wouldn’t be the way forward.”
On Monday Green said: “There is already a precedent for this situation, established by the SFL at the end of the 1993-94 season when Stranraer, winners of the lowest of three divisions, were promoted to the new second tier on the basis they were champions of their division and merited promotion.
“Indeed, recently the chairman of Stranraer FC referred to the matter and supported the prospect of Rangers being promoted in the event of a 12-12-18 outcome.
“There has been no shortage of voices banging on about sporting integrity over the last year but sporting integrity must cut both ways. Should that be observed during reconstruction discussions then significant benefits would delivered, particularly to clubs in the middle tier who have yet to reap any financial benefit from Rangers playing in lower divisions.”
Just like promises of a kit deal with adidas, £30m in the bank by the end of July 2012, a commercial tie up with the Dallas Cowboys and signing players straight from Euro 2012 the Stranraer Precedent looks like being another claim from Green to fall to pieces.
It’s a bizarre argument green has, but today isn’t him and to be fair the teams involved they should have a straight knock out at the end of the season, using the players the have now. Sevco will find their level, it will be the bottom tier.