Annan Athletic granted SFL status after winning the vote to replace Gretna

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

At a meeting at Hampden, the 29 SFL clubs voted in favour of the East of Scotland League team being invited to join the Irn-Bru Third Division.

Spartans, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Cove Rangers has also applied to take the place left vacant by Gretna, who went out of business after being relegated from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Scroll down for more

A cut above: Annan Athletic will step up at the start of the season

With a minimum of 15 votes required to gain entry to the SFL, three rounds of voting were needed before Annan's place was confirmed.

They polled 17 votes in the final round, with Cove Rangers their closest challengers with 12 votes.

One-time favourites Spartans dropped out of the running after the second round after amassing just six votes.

Annan chairman Henry McLelland said: 'It's just sunk in but it's been a long time coming.

'We've not been working towards this for only a few months - we've been working for this since we played Stranraer in 1979.

'We have been rewarded for all our work since then.'

Annan failed with their last bid to join the SFL when they lost out to Peterhead and Elgin City in January 2000.

SFL chief executive David Longmuir said: 'On behalf of the working party, I would like to say how impressed we were by all five clubs.

'We welcome Annan to the Scottish Football League, where they will play a Challenge Cup game on July 26 and then their first league game on August 2.'