Spartans keen to test themselves

Published on Tuesday 1 July 2008 23:29

SKIPPER Stewart Fowlie says Spartans are desperate to pit their wits against SFL sides on a weekly basis after proving their giant-killing pedigree in the Scottish Cup.

The East of Scotland outfit have reached the last 16 in the cup twice in the recent seasons, with Livingston, then of the SPL, and First Division St Mirren ending their remarkable knock-out runs.

However, with the north Edinburgh side awaiting tomorrow's decision on their bid to replace Gretna in the Third Division next season, Fowlie is keeping his fingers crossed they can make the step up on a permanent basis.

The Scotland semi-professional cap said: "It would be great. It's a challenge that the guys would all relish.

"We've had a few encounters with league sides in the past in the Scottish Cup, but going into the league would be a whole different thing.

"To have that chance to prove ourselves as individual players and as a squad is something that everybody is looking forward to.

"There would be no secret weapons and no surprises, and it's a longer league campaign, so it would be a much bigger test. But we've got a lot of players who have played at a higher level before and a few who could have gone on to league football by now.

"It's hard to say where we would be in the Third Division, but we would certainly like to find out."