The Falkirk Herald has pledged to back its local football club in the fight to overturn a controversial Scottish Premier League ruling.

Dismay turned to outrage and finally defiance after the SPL decided that newly-promoted Falkirk did not fit the criteria for top league status.

‘The Bairns’ won the first division and had interim plans to groundshare with Airdrie while a new stadium was built at Westfield, to the east of Falkirk.

Seven SPL chairmen decided Falkirk did not meet the criteria to play in the Premierleague – but another five voted to promote them.

The SPL then added insult to injury by refusing to issue an explanation for its decision – despite writing to the Scottish Football League to say Falkirk’s groundshare plans were unsuitable.

Now Falkirk FC, its fans and The Falkirk Herald have joined forces to fight the decision.

Club lawyers have lodged formal appeals with the Scottish Football Association and the Office of Fair Trading while supporters’ group BairnsTrust has organised a campaign. The SFA had now agreed to a hearing at a date yet to be fixed.

Herald group editor Colin Hume pledged the paper would continue to play its part in the fight.

He said: “We’ve supported the club all the way and won’t stop now. We’re delighted to be working with the BairnsTrust in gathering backing for Falkirk’s case.”

Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie said: “We intend to pursue every course open to us to overturn the decision”.

“We realise that business and fixture planning could be thrown into chaos – but that is a consequence of the SPL’s decision”.

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