Muirhead relieved as BU Lowland spot is confirmed

Muirhead received a confirmation email from SFA licensing officer Brian Mann around 12 noon on Friday, signifying that the East of Scotland champions’ licence to enter the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid had been ratified by the governing body.

“There was relief and I certainly had a few bottles of beer!” Muirhead told the Falkirk Herald.

“Obviously then I did a phonecall to Max (Bo’ness manager Christie) and the other guys and they were delighted.

“It’s a kind of closure for all the hard work that’s gone on and it obviously opens up new chapters in terms of the Lowland League.”

The SFA had granted the licence during a meeting last Thursday, so Muirhead admitted it was a nervous wait before he finally found out it was passed.

“It was definitely a stressful period waiting between the Thursday and the Friday,” Muirhead said.

“I was continually checking my inbox for the email.

“When it wasn’t coming through I was hearing all sorts like it wasn’t discussed at the meeting and I’m thinking: ‘Oh dear’.

“But it eventually came through and I felt relief more than anything else.”

The BU chairman met gaffer Christie on Monday night, when the pair discussed their plans for the BUs’ assault on the 2020-21 Lowland League, the start date of which has still to be confirmed.

Budgets and new signings were being earmarked, as they try and get a squad strong enough to push for a top six place.

Muirhead said: “I think if the league starts it will be late on, whether it be in September or October.

“We want to certainly consolidate in that league.

“Max certainly thinks top six is achievable.

“But it wouldn’t be a disaster if we finished seventh or eighth in the league.

“There was no relegation from the Lowland League last season (meaning that bottom two clubs Dalbeattie Star and Vale of Leithen escaped the drop) so it will mean that there is one extra team in the league.

“How many teams relegated next season is still to be ratified. We’ll see how the Lowland League is going to work that.

“It could well be that three teams go down.”