Rutherglen Glencairn have accepted their West of Scotland Football League Premier Division fate – and manager Willie Harvey is already planning for life in the second tier.
A 1-1 draw with Pollok on the final day was not enough for Glens to steer their fate out of the hands of others, despite sitting on 50 points.
Glenafton Athletic needed just a point off already relegated Cumbernauld United and Blantyre Victoria to all but confirm the South Lanarkshire club’s fate, with their game against the latter abandoned in bizarre circumstances. Vics only had six players left on the field in the second half due to other commitments.
Athletic then drew 0-0 with Cumbernauld on Monday night and have been awarded a 2-0 win for their match with Blantyre, confirming Glens finish this season in the relegation zone
Harvey said: “It’s better it’s done so we can move on. We are beginning to work towards next season. We’ve already had discussions with the committee, sorting out players.
“We have our Player of the Year dance on Saturday but I’ve informed the players that after that, we will start pulling them in. I don’t want to do it before then.
“I want them to enjoy their night and we will begin the work towards next season after that.”
Harvey’s unhappiness at the relegation predicament in the Premier Division has ran throughout the campaign, which is why he won’t lay blame at the players’ door.
But the former Blantyre gaffer admits that over the season, not enough was done to warrant safety under testing circumstances.
He explained: “It’s unfortunate. I can’t fault the players, the attitude and the effort they have put in over this season.
“If you had told me at the start of the season that we would get 50 points and get relegated, I would have laughed the head off you. But it is what is. We are at least middle of the table in other seasons.
“We played 38 games and picked up that. Dundee United played 38 games in the Premiership, picked up 48 points and finished fourth. It just shows you. But we had to get the points we needed and unfortunately we didn’t.
“Over the season we dropped points in places we shouldn’t have. That is unfortunate and we’re now paying the cost for that. I could go through the season giving facts and figures.
"But the fact of the matter is we didn’t get enough to stay up.”
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