Highland League ends on points-per-game basis...Brora are champions

Steven Mackay’s men, who recently pulled off one of the greatest ever Scottish Cup upsets by defeating Hearts, were awarded the title after the Highland League committee called a halt to the campaign.

The final table was decided on a points-per-game basis with goal difference as the additional tie-breaker, enabling Brora to finish above Fraserburgh, Buckie Thistle, Formartine United and Inverurie Loco Works as the other teams with 100 per cent records.

The Dudgeon Park outfit will now be put forward to take part in the play-offs to enter the SPFL, assuming they go ahead as planned.

Kelty Hearts were crowned champions of the Lowland League late on Monday evening, again on a points-per-game basis.

A statement from the League Management Committee read: “The 2020-21 season has been shortened severely by pandemic circumstances.

“The League took great care to hold off beginning the Championship until it could start at a stage at which it was as safe as possible to do so in the communities in which the League is based.

“This was also for the sake of people involved in the League’s activities – its sense of responsibility to that context is important – and it has been unfortunate that another suspension of play occurred, thereby further truncating the season.

The Scottish Government has allowed the restart of Scottish Leagues 1 and 2, subject to weekly testing of all involved for the remainder of the season.

“The cost of PCR testing – at an estimated £1500 per club per week – is beyond the sustainable resources of SHFL clubs for the length of even a shortened League campaign.

“It should be noted that, from the outset, the League’s top priority has been to seek to ensure that all clubs survived beyond the pandemic.

“Strict interpretation of the Pyramid Play-off rules means that the obligation to produce a champion club has to relate to the season in which the play-offs take place."

The Lowland League has also been called with final positions decided on a points-per-game basis, seeing Kelty Hearts as champions.