New Airdrie to apply

Airdrie could rise again under a new company name

A new Airdrie is set to apply for membership of the Scottish Football League - just hours after the old Airdrieonians lost their place.

The SFL Management Committee confirmed on Thursday that the First Division club had lost their membership, which has allowed Falkirk and Stenhousemuir to avoid relegation from the First and Second Divisions respectively.

Non-league clubs have been invited to apply for the vacant position left in the Third Division next season after Airdrie's plunge into liquidation.

Gala Fairydean, Gretna, Fraserburgh, Deveronvale, Huntly and Whitehill Welfare are all set to apply.

Rowan Alexander is leading Gretna's bid

But Glaswegian chartered accountant Jim Ballantyne has registered two companies under the Airdrie name - Airdrie FC Ltd and Airdrie Football Club Ltd.

Ballantyne is hoping to re-build the club from scratch without buying the original name of Airdrieonians Football and Athletic Club from liquidators KPMG.

However, any new club would be without a home because KPMG insist the club name will only be sold together with the sale of the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium.

"Airdrie Football Club Ltd is a separate entity from the Airdrie which we all knew," said Ballantyne.

"This is a vehicle to keep senior football alive in the Airdrie area.

"We will certainly bid for this new club to get league membership.

"The supporters will have a percentage of shares through a trust and will have a place on the board.

"We have finance in place and we have access to a ground to play our games."

Airdrie face particularly stiff competition from Gretna, who presently play in England's Unibond League, with applications needing to be submitted within two weeks.

Manager and former Morton striker Rowan Alexander told the Daily Express: "We have all the facilities here, with enclosures on three sides and stand on the fourth side of our ground.

"I believe we have a squad who would play well in the Third Division."