KELTY HEARTS manager Barry Ferguson has admitted it would be "very disappointing" if his club were denied a chance to earn promotion into the SPFL.

The Lowland League leaders are awaiting the outcome of a vote of the SPFL's 42 member clubs on a proposal to terminate the current Championship, League One and League Two season.

If the resolution is passed, final season placings determined by points per game in league matches played to date by each club, while also recommending that Premiership matches "remain postponed for the time being", to give the opportunity for those matches to be played.

However, if the SPFL board deems that they cannot, it too would also be terminated, with final season placings determined on the same basis.

If the vote is passed, it would mean that Dundee United would be promoted from the Championship, and Partick Thistle relegated; Raith Rovers moving up from League One, with Stranraer demoted; and Cove Rangers going up from League Two.

Although the SPFL say that they would commit "to consulting with clubs over the possibility of league reconstruction ahead of next season", Ferguson's side would remain in limbo.

They lead the Lowland League by six points from Bonnyrigg Rose, who have a game in hand, with five matches left.

If they were to be crowned champions they would, under normal circumstances, take on Brora Rangers - already declared as Highland League winners - in a play-off.

The winner of that would then take on the team that finishes bottom of League Two, with the victor then taking their place in the SPFL.

Kelty, previously in Press Sport, have called for league reconstruction and Ferguson echoed that sentiment.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "What's the point of having a pyramid system in Scotland, for the Lowland League and the Highland League clubs, to try and get into the SPFL if this is all going to be scrapped?

"You can't relegate Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer, who are bottom of League One, and not relegate Brechin (bottom of League Two), or let Brechin go into a play-off game to see whether they can stay in the SPFL, or whether they go down into the Lowland (or Highland) League.

"There's big decisons to be made. We've invested a bit of money this year, and worked really hard, as have all the clubs in the Lowland League, and probably the Highland League.

"I can only speak for the Lowland League and my club just now; we've put a lot of hard work into it, we've invested a bit of money, we're trying to do things right, and if we're going to be denied an opportunity to get into the league, it'll be very disappointing."

Ferguson continued: "It's one of those ones where you maybe need to take it on the chin and move on, but I think there is a way round about it to keep the vast majority of clubs happy, and that's to try and reconstruct the leagues in Scotland.

"I'm not just saying it at this moment in time; I've been saying it for the past 12-18 months.

"I think it's about time we try and do something with our leagues, and try and make it more interesting."

Kelty's general manager, Dean McKenzie, said he has been disappointed with a lack of dialogue between the SPFL and Lowland League, and added: "From our point of view, we've worked for years to get to this stage, and to have that taken away would be a huge blow to the club and the village.

"The whole pyramid would be stiffed if there's no movement. That means the likes of Bo'ness and Hill of Beath might not get promoted (from the East of Scotland League, Premier Division), and even in the league below, teams like Tynecastle.

"I think the proposals would fly if there was a guarantee of league reconstruction."

Votes are to be returned by 5pm this evening.

To pass, nine of the 12 Premiership clubs, eight of the 10 Championship sides, plus 15 of the 20 teams in League One and Two combined, must vote in favour.