Black: Gretna's downfall gives Airdrie lucky break

Published on Friday 30 May 2008 10:32

AIRDRIE UNITED manager Kenny Black insists his club were due a bit of luck after they were promoted to the Irn-Bru First Division following Gretna's demotion to the fourth tier.

The Borders club, who went into administration in March and were relegated from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season, were demoted another two divisions after they failed to convince the Scottish Football League's annual general meeting that they will fulfil their fixtures next season.

Airdrie, who lost in the First Division play-off final to Clyde after finishing second in Division Two, will be promoted to Division One and Stranraer will move up to Division Two.

"Somebody up there likes us. We haven't had much luck recently so I'm delighted," said Black. "We would like to have gone up as champions but we were fortunate enough to take advantage of this situation.

"I have sympathy with the people at Gretna, the players, the staff and the fans. But the SFL gave them as long as they could. We have been waiting to hear the decision because it has dragged on.

"We are looking forward to next season. Some might see us as the whipping boys and feel that we are guaranteed to go back down.

"But that is challenge that I relish and I am determined to keep Airdrie in the First Division."

Airdrie chairman Jim Ballantyne admits he was half-expecting his club would make the move if Gretna could not find a solution to their plight.

"It's a sad day for Gretna but we have benefited from it and we will accept it," he said. "But the decision didn't come as a total surprise to us – as a business you have to be aware of all eventualities and it was always in the background.

"We have been in the First Division before for a few years and it's a totally different ball game. What we need to do this time is consolidate. Obviously the budget will be higher in the First Division but we still have a bit of balancing to do."

David Longmuir, the SFL chief executive, explained the decision, saying: "Gretna were admitted to the Scottish Football League last Friday and we have decided to invoke a rule to relegate them to the Third Division.

"We have done this in consultation with the administrator and we have had a very good working relationship with him. He has agreed with the decision. A lot of it was based on, first of all, the administrator telling us that he did not see a sustainable business plan from the third party trying to buy Gretna. We also looked at the business plan and we agreed. We found many fundamental flaws with the business plan. Therefore, we decided the risks were far too high."

Longmuir will invite applications for a new club to join the SFL if a takeover of Gretna is not completed by a "very early point of next week".