Threave Rovers chairman Davie McVitie says it was “now or never” when it came to moving to the West of Scotland League.
The Castle Douglas outfit quit the South of Scotland League at the end of last season.
And on Saturday their application to join the West of Scotland League was approved. They’ll be starting in the fourth division when the campaign kicks off.
McVitie said: “When I took over as chairman nine or 10 years ago we made a plan. One thing was to sort Birkland Road for the youths, another one was the social club and doing up the dressing rooms.
“In the last couple of years we’ve talked about moving to the West but we just weren’t ready. We decided it was now or never – that’s no disrespect to the South, we wish them all the best.
“We’re financially a bit better off now through all the work of the committee, it’s all voluntary and a lot of credit goes to them for getting us in this position.
“When I brought it up a couple of years ago the committee wasn’t for it, which was fine, but I feel Threave needed to move.
“We’ve got some of the best facilities around and we’ve got to move with the times. The committee deserves a lot of credit for what they’ve done and achieved since I became chairman as the facilities are second to none.
“It’s not just a spur of the moment thing because we didn’t win the league. It’s been on the cards for two or three years.”
Threave are the only Dumfries and Galloway team in the West with their opponents in the fourth division mainly Glasgow based – Campbeltown Pupils being a notable exception.
McVitie said: “Campbeltown might be an overnight stay but the rest are only an hour and a half or two hours up the road.
“At the meeting on Saturday a lot of teams thought we were further afield – once they were told where we are they were fine. They’re all looking forward to us and those teams coming to Castle Douglas.”
Another issue is that Threave are starting at the bottom of the West, much further down Scottish football’s pyramid than the South of Scotland League’s position at tier six – just one below the Lowland League.
McVitie added: “We’ve been in the Lowland League before, we’ve tried that.
“You need to be an exceptional team to win the South and win the play-offs. You know before you even start if you get Darvel or Auchinleck you haven’t much chance.
“I don’t think we’d have got the same signings this year if we’d stayed in the South, the interest was to go to the west.
“Our aim is to go as high as we can – we’ll find our level but it’ll take time.
“It gives players a chance, especially young players we have coming through the youth ranks. It seems more scouting goes on so that opens a big pathway for them because there’s always scouts looking at teams in the West.”
