"I
am not a number, I'm a free man," bellowed the
Prisoner. Greedy sod, he should have been grateful,
because Coventry City striker Paul Williams is remembered
in the tomes of football folly by just a solitary letter.
Yes, one blessed letter.
ANNAN
ANNOUNCED AS NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK... FRIDAY
4th JULY 2008
They were dancing
in the streets of Annan Athletic last
night after Scottish clubs voted to allow
the Dumfries and Galloway outfit in to
the League for the first time.
The tartaned minnows stepped up to join
Division Three following the sad and spectacular
demise of Gretna.
There are some peculiarities in this whole
process that are worth mentioning however.
1 - That the Scottish League still go
through this election process, despite
East Stirling clamouring like a leper
year after year to be kicked out by consistent
bottom-placed finishes (although, admittedly,
this year they did excel themselves in
concluding last term only eight points
adrift of Elgin City).
2 - The votes are conducted by a convoluted
process over three rounds. Why?!
3 - The votes are conducted by the 29
Football League chairman, which might
explain why ..
4 - Annan won the vote despite finishing
7th in the East of Scotland league last
season, and a full 19 points behind Spartans
who were shovelled out of the process.
Talk about looking after your own interests
by inviting in the whipping boys.
Joking aside, Annan were regarded as having
the best set-up and future potential to
compete in the Scottish League, and all
eyes will be on their first competitive
fixture as an SFL club when they travel
to Clyde in the Challenge Cup on July
26th.