Kelty assistant manager Bob Malcolm has jokingly asked if the club should hand their trophy back after a mixed reception to the Fife club being declared Lowland League champions yesterday.
The former Rangers star is No.2 to fellow ex-Ibrox hero Barry Ferguson at New Central Park and the outspoken ex-pro appears to be revelling in their title win, which was determined on a points per game basis.
Kelty took the crown by default for the second year running, as the Covid crisis cut short the Lowland League season once again.
Despite playing only one team in the top five - runners-up East Kilbride - and losing to them, the Lowland League declared Malcolm's side champions by virtue of 2.77 PPG, compared to EK's 2.42.
Some fans and clubs have questioned the decision, with Lowland chairman George Fraser telling Lanarkshire Live Sport in an exclusive interview that they simply had to declare a champion to give the pyramid play-offs the best chance of going ahead.
And today Malcolm - who won four major honours with Rangers - had a message for the naysayers as he took to his Twitter page to address them.
He posted "Rite [sic] Kelty Hearts let's hand the league back there is a few petted lips out there."
Rite @KeltyHeartsFC let’s hand the league back there is a few petted lips out there
— Bob Malcolm (@BM12____) March 31, 2021
That followed a celebratory tweet from the ex-Clyde coach after yesterday's official confirmation that Kelty would be put forward as the SLFL's play-off candidate, joining Brora Rangers who took the Highland League crown after just THREE games.
Did someone say 2 IAR
— Bob Malcolm (@BM12____) March 30, 2021
Kelty are now gearing up for that big clash, having been denied the opportunity last season when the SPFL announced there would be no play-offs in the SPFL pyramid due to Covid.
Nothing is set in stone at the moment, however, amid a vote next month on whether or not Rangers and Celtic Colts will be accepted into League Two next season. That could involve the top two from the Lowland League being included in any potential reconstruction.
SLFL chief Fraser confirmed yesterday they await further news from the SPFL on the Lowland/Highland play-off clash, which would see the victors face off against the bottom team in League Two, currently Brechin City, at the end of the season.
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