Beaming Brora boss Steven Mackay insists his Scottish Cup giantkillers have struck a decisive blow that must see them given an SPFL opportunity.
The Highland League champions are still coming down to earth after dumping Hearts in a monumental 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
But as the Dudgeon Park dust settles on the greatest result in Brora’s 142-year history Mackay says the pressure is now on the authorities to ensure they’re not denied a chance at winning promotion to League 2 for a second successive year.
Brora and Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts were left locked out when the annual pyramid play-off was cancelled amid last season’s covid chaos.
That left both clubs feeling a sense of injustice. But with no guarantee the same won’t happen this season as both leagues sit in limbo Mackay is adamant his club must be given a shot at promotion.
Highland and Lowland League officials have pressed their case for putting a champion club forward for a play-off.
Talks are also ongoing over a potential reconstruction of League 2 that would see the Highland and Lowland champions automatically take their place in a 14-team bottom division alongside Rangers and Celtic Colts sides.
That plan is currently awaiting SFA and SPFL approval ahead of a vote next month.
But Mackay insists his side’s humiliation of Hearts, together with Formartine beating Annan and Buckie running Inverness close, proves the pyramid is as strong as ever and cannot be closed off again.
The former Ross County striker told Record Sport: “What happened on Tuesday night has to make people sit up and take notice
“Ourselves, Kelty and other clubs in the Lowland and Highland Leagues are well set up on and off the pitch to go into the SPFL and make a difference.
“We are waiting on a decision on both the play-offs and the reconstruction proposal. But irrespective of what option they take we would want to push our case.
“We felt let down last season that we were denied the opportunity.
“They invited us into the Betfred Cup which was great and we did a good job with some credible results and performances.
“The next step is without doubt getting into the Scottish league because that’s where our club needs to be and our players deserve to be playing.
“Cove have done it and absolutely flourished. That’s the example of what can be achieved.
“As long as there’s a pathway for us then we will try and take it.
“Last year’s outcome wasn’t great for us or Kelty but we have made peace with it.
“I think there’s an element of nervousness with clubs that have been struggling in League 2 for a number of years.
“You have clubs like ourselves, Kelty, East Kilbride, Buckie, Formartine, Fraserburgh - all teams that are hungry to compete at a higher level and have the infrastructure to do so.
“So there’s definitely an element of fear there.”
Brora chairman William Powrie echoed his manager and said aborting the play-offs for a second year would destroy the credibility of the pyramid.
He said: “We are an ambitious club and feel we can progress up the food chain in Scottish football.
“Tuesday’s performance showed what standard the Highland League is.
“We favour the restructure proposal. That would hopefully see us put forward as champions of the Highland League although that’s not cast in stone.
“But I also hope that the play-offs go ahead. If they were aborted again then that would ruin the credibility of them altogether.”
Meanwhile Mackay revealed he had ample time to reflect on his side’s exploits after the match - as he faced a 200-mile drive to Dunfermline ready for starting work at 6.30am yesterday!
The manufacturing company operations director said: “I had a long drive down the A9 straight after the game.
“It allowed me to let the magnitude of what the boys achieved sink in. It’s just overwhelming pride in what the players have achieved.
“It’s without doubt the greatest result in the club’s history.
“Brora had been in the doldrums for years and even recently in 2010-11 finished second bottom of the Highland League and shipped 119 goals.
“It’s been quite a dramatic turnaround since then. We have managed to secure three championships and are now pushing to try and get in the Scottish league.”
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