A WRONG has been righted, according to Dunbar United manager Kevin Haynes, after the club returned to the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division.
The Seasiders were relegated last season after suffering a last-day defeat at the hands of Tynecastle.
However, they bounced back at the first opportunity, with a draw on Saturday with Glenrothes, coupled with results in the South of Scotland Football League, securing promotion.
The manager said: “I have always said that the main aim was to achieve promotion and we have done that.
“Obviously, I am delighted about righting a wrong from last season.
“I felt we were really unfortunate to get relegated after not being in the relegation zone until the last day of the season, which cost us. Correcting that is where we have been at all season.”
Three teams were scheduled to be promoted from the EoSFL First Division.
However, with neither Beith Juniors – winners of the West of Scotland Football League Premier Division – nor Abbey Vale – crowned champions of the South of Scotland Football League – having the required SFA licence, EoSFL Premier Division champions Linlithgow Rose moved up to the Scottish Lowland Football League unopposed.
With the EoSFL therefore losing a club for next season, that meant four teams would go up to the Premier Division rather than three, guaranteeing promotion for Dunbar and Glenrothes.
Haynes highlighted the unusual circumstances of Dunbar’s promotion, which was confirmed more than 100 miles away as Abbey Vale defeated Stranraer Reserves on Monday evening.
He said: “Ultimately, we were being promoted while I was lying in my bed.
“It definitely would have been a bit better had we done it on our own merit in a game we had just finished playing.
“Ultimately, we have still got the chance to do that and a chance to win the league. We still have a chance to celebrate on a pitch somewhere.”
The East Lothian club remain top of the table but Glenrothes can go above them when they play their game in hand against Rosyth on Saturday.
Haynes felt Glenrothes were now the favourites for the league title.
He told Courier Sport: “What hurts me is we have been top of the league since October or November.”
But he stressed that, whichever team won the title, “we will both compete in the same league next year”.
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