KELTY HEARTS captain Shaun Greig says that the club’s move to the East of Scotland League has the full backing of the players.

The Super League champions have been accepted into the league for next season as they seek to become an SFA licenced club.

Greig is convinced they are taking the right step and told Press Sport: “We’ve had discussions about it; a couple of the senior players were kept in the loop and we had a good meeting last Tuesday. We know where we’re going and the reasons why, and everyone backs it. We’re excited; we have the Scottish Cup and there’s the chance of playing in the Irn-Bru and Betfred, so there’s four or five cups we can be involved in.

“We’re going into a league where we’re potentially stronger and we’d be looking to get promotion. I would expect us to be favourites and that would be our ambition.”

Greig admitted that not reaching the final of one of the season’s cup competitions – the Junior Cup especially – was a slight disappointment over the course of the season but said: “It has been a long, thoughtful process but the Junior Cup would be one thing that would maybe have held me back. We fell short a wee bit in the cups this year but there’s probably not much more we can do.

“I’m happy pulling on a Kelty jersey and the boys are staying together. If we can keep the nucleus of the team then we should hit the ground running, and we have something to strive for. We could dominate the Super League but there’s nothing there beyond that, and I know other junior teams are looking at it as well.

“It’s a good time to be at Kelty. We’re picking up more support, off the park the committee work tirelessly and we’re going in the right direction.”

The senior Scottish Cup will feature the Super League champions next season and Greig is excited by the prospect – and believes they can emulate their defeated title rivals’ achievement in reaching last season’s fourth round.

Bonnyrigg knocked out Forfar Athletic and Dumbarton on their way to a glamour tie with then holders Hibernian and he added: “It’s great for the club and for the players to show we can go in, compete and do as Bonnyrigg did. We’ve beaten them home and away and, when you watched them at Forfar and Dumbarton, we wouldn’t fear any team in League One or Two of the SPFL if we got into the main draw. There’s a big hype; everyone comes together and it’d be huge for the village.”