Town savours club's league entry

Annan Athletic have been admitted to the Scottish Football League

Annan Athletic's entry into the Scottish Football League has been hailed as "great news" for the town.

The Dumfries and Galloway side saw off four other teams to secure a Division Three place - replacing nearby Gretna.

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown, a native of the town, said the decision would be likely to provoke "great excitement" in the area.

The side will kick-off its new life as an SFL side with an away trip to Clyde in the Challenge Cup on 26 July.

Dumfries and Galloway Council leader Ivor Hyslop said he was delighted the authority's support of the Annan bid had proved successful.

"This is great news for Annan Athletic," he said.

This is fantastic news, not just for the club but for the whole area David Mundell MP

"We hope to see Annan Athletic move up the league in years to come."

Mr Brown said the decision showed that sport in Dumfries and Galloway was "on the up" despite the recent demise of Gretna.

"Early on Annan seemed to be outsiders for entry into the league with the likes of Spartans more fancied," he said.

"But the club have built themselves up for this moment over the last decade and they've shown that they thoroughly deserve this spot in the SFL for all their hard work."

That view was echoed by Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell.

"This is fantastic news, not just for the club but for the whole area.

"After the sad demise of Gretna, it was only right that league football, which was a success in this area, be restored.

"I am sure Annan will enjoy healthy crowds as well as a sporting rivalry with Queen of the South."