We won’t give up on SFL dream

By Sean Wallace

Published:

DEJECTED: A disappointed Cove chairman Keith Moorhouse, left, and president Alan McRae leave Hampden after missing out on a place in the Scottish Football League to Annan Athletic.

THE darkest day in Cove’s proud history – that’s how chairman Keith Moorhouse described their cruel SFL rejection.

For the third time ambitious Cove applied for admission to the Scottish League, only to be left shell-shocked.

For the third time their dreams were denied as they lost out to Annan Athletic in the final ballot by 17 votes to 12.

And Moorhouse, part of the delegation who delivered the club’s proposal, confirmed Cove would apply for a fourth time when the opportunity arises.

Moorhouse said: “This is the third time we have lost out, and it is definitely the most painful as Cove came so close this time.

“I was involved in the last bid in 2002 when we lost out to Gretna, but this hurts a lot more.

“It will probably take a while to get over this setback, because losing out on our ambition to play in the SFL is bitterly disappointing.

“Cove are hurting, but we will pick ourselves up and move forward.

“Another opportunity will come for Cove to make an application, and we will be better prepared next time.

“Senior football is our ambition and we will make a fourth bid.”

Valiant Cove survived two rounds of voting, with Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic eliminated at the first stage after polling only one vote apiece.

Spartans were next to fall out of the race after they drew just six votes.

That left an all-or-nothing face-off, with Annan emerging victorious.

With Cove the only North team involved in the fight for SFL status, Moorhouse reckons their Allan Park ground, and perhaps internal politics within the 29 voting member clubs, denied Cove.

“Our current facilities at Allan Park held us back,” he said.

“It is frustrating because, Cove Rangers were a better long-term bet as Calder Park has been given the go-ahead.

“The difference between our application and Annan’s is that they are more equipped for the SFL now, whereas Cove would be stronger in the long-term.

“The decision was made on what is best now, which is understandable after what happened with Gretna.

“Like most things in this world, politics could have come into the decision, but we will not give up.”

Cove may have been denied SFL football, but for Moorhouse, the backing of 12 clubs proves their pitch was a success.

“I would like to thank the clubs who voted for us and I will make a personal phone call to thank them because I am pretty sure I know who they are.”