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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

League Two clubs must be 'selfish' claims Albion Rovers boss amid SPFL reconstruction blow

Boss Kevin Harper admits Albion Rovers would like to play clubs that boost revenue next term after League Two took a hard line on reconstruction plans.

SPFL2 sides have backed a 14-14-14 model which would see League One clubs Clyde, Peterhead, Forfar and Stranraer play in the bottom tier.

This would also mean no promotion from the Highland and Lowland League winners Kelty Hearts or Brora Rangers.

The proposal to be green lit at least five teams from League One would have to back the move along with 75 per cent backing from the Premiership and Championship.

(Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)

Clyde have already publicly blasted the plans, claiming the block vote from the lowest ranks goes against "the founding principle of the reconstruction group; that is that no club should be in a worse financial or sporting position due to the effects of Covid-19."

Harper says the Coatbridge side have to consider how to boost cash going forward – with the proposal meaning North Lanarkshire rivals The Bully Wee drop to the same division.

He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: “For us in terms of competition it will just be the same.

Albion Rovers have received fan support (Stirling Observer)

"We will have the smallest budget in whatever the new division is, and we will still have to compete with bigger and better teams.

“At the end of the day the club have to do what is right for them, and the budget is something that will be benefited if we have local clubs who bring bigger crowds playing in our league. You want to have clubs who are close to you to help increase revenue.

“The club have to be selfish and vote for whatever they think can help them survive.

Hearts owner Ann Budge is leading the talks on league reconstruction (SNS Group)

"That’s the most important thing for me right now, that Albion Rovers survive.”

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on  Facebook or find us on  Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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