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Watson: Cove are ‘head and shoulders’ above rival sides

Former Cove Rangers captain Eric Watson.
Former Cove Rangers captain Eric Watson.

Former Cove Rangers captain Eric Watson is proud to see the progress they have made in the SPFL.

The Balmoral Stadium side were awarded the League 2 title and promoted to League 1 after an SPFL proposal was eventually passed earlier this month to end the lower league seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Placings have been determined based on points per game and with Cove 13 points clear of Edinburgh City there was never any doubt they would win the title.

Watson, pictured, was with the club for 12 years until last summer and helped them win 13 trophies – including six Highland League titles – as well as promotion to the Scottish League last season.

The Inverurie Locos defender said: “I’d be delighted to see Cove get promoted, they’ve had a great season.

“It was a bit like Brora in the Highland League (who were also 13 points clear and declared champions) in that they’re head and shoulders above everyone else and deserve to be crowned champions.

“It’s been great to see what Cove have done this season and I’ve always been keeping a check on the scores.

“Most weeks the team that has played has had six or seven of the boys from last season in the starting 11.

“That’s good and they deserved to have a go at Scottish League football and I’m pleased they’ve proved themselves in that league.

“Hopefully whenever things get back underway they can kick on again next year in League 1.”

For a number of years Cove were building to reach the SPFL and Watson was a key part of the squad which made it possible.

Although he has sympathy for the clubs that have been adversely affected by the decision to end the current campaign Watson is pleased to see a number of players who started as youngsters in the Highland League making their mark in the SPFL.

He added: “As a club Cove been gearing up to try and make this progression for a number of years so it’s good to see it happening.

“I do feel pride in helping them on the journey and in the nucleus of the team there’s guys like Blair Yule, Connor Scully and Harry Milne who started with us when they were boys.

Cove Rangers’ Connor Scully has thrived in the SPFL.

“They came in at a young age and now they’re playing week-in, week-out in that team which is great.

“I’m proud to see how those guys have got on and proud of the part I played in helping the club.”

Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts have been crowned champions of the Highland League and Lowland League respectively.

But as a result of the SPFL’s season-ending vote the pyramid play-offs won’t take place, meaning unless the league structure is reconstructed – something that is currently being discussed – then the Cattachs and the Jambos won’t get the opportunity to be promoted.

Watson believes the pyramid system has been good for Scottish football and feels it would be harsh on Brora and Kelty if they missed out.

He said: “I do still think at the bottom of the SPFL it is geared too heavily towards the team at the bottom and I’m not sure if they should get as big a lifeline as they do.

“There are a lot of ambitious clubs wanting to have a crack at it like Brora and in the Lowland League Kelty Hearts, Spartans, East Kilbride and a lot of the Junior teams have gone into the Lowland League and are pushing for it.

“There were a lot of clubs that have been stale sitting at the bottom of the SPFL who have had a kick up the backside and have had to buck up their ideas.”