Hurlford United have delayed their application for an Entry Level Club Licence with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) by one year after a delay in planning approval for floodlights at Blair Park.
The club said its planning application to East Ayrshire Council for the installation of floodlighting is now at week 22 of what was advised as an eight-week process. The outcome is still unknown. As a result, the club cannot meet the deadlines set by the SFA.
In a statement, the club said: “Hurlford United FC can now confirm that it has unfortunately had to advise the Scottish Football Association (SFA) that we will have to delay our application for an Entry Level Club License by one year.
“For varying reasons, our Planning Application to East Ayrshire Council, for the installation of floodlighting is now at week 22 of what we were advised was an 8 week process and we are still unaware if this will be successful. This means we cannot meet the appropriate deadlines for the SFA process.”
The club described the decision as disappointing.
The statement continued: “This is clearly a huge disappointment for the club, the management team and the playing squad, as well as our fan base, however we can now plan the alterations we require to make within Blair Park with greater clarity and with more sustainable planning.
“This situation has a huge effect on our position within the SFA Pyramid, however, circumstances have dictated that we will have to continue to work hard and any success or failures will be based on merit on the pitch, rather than on the decisions of officials in offices where we have very little, if any, influence.”
Hurlford thanked the SFA for their support.
“We would like to thank the SFA for their understanding. They have been extremely supportive and flexible, but there comes a time where difficult decisions have to be made.”
The club also thanked supporters.
“We would also like to thank our fanbase for sticking with us. In line with a number of our fellow clubs, we’re a team from a small village community with a small population being asked to spend tens of thousands of pounds to maintain the level of football we have worked hard to attain, but with ‘goalposts’ moving very regularly.
“Thank you for your support and understanding – the hard work continues on and off the pitch at Blair Park, and we appreciate your support.”