Annan voted into SFL

East of Scotland League club replace Gretna

Last updated: 3rd July 2008

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Annan Athletic have been voted into the Scottish Football League to replace Gretna.

After relegation from the Scottish Premier League last season, Gretna subsequently went out of business to open up a place in the Third Division.

A total of five clubs applied to take Gretna's spot, with Cove Rangers, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Spartans also in the running.

However, at a meeting at Hampden on Thursday, the 29 SFL clubs voted to accept Annan Athletic in to the league.

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

Long time coming

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 McClelland 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."