Edinburgh 'receive bronze licence' after SPFL status fears

Edinburgh City started their season preparations with a friendly against neighbours Hibernian on Saturday

Edinburgh City have eased fears about their future as a Scottish Professional Football League club by announcing they have met new Scottish FA "bronze licence" criteria.

At the start of last season, Championship club Airdrieonians, League 1 duo Cove Rangers and Kelty Hearts, and League 2 pair Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic and Peterhead only had an "entry level" licence.

But, with a bronze award being now mandatory for Scotland's top four leagues, City were the one club that had yet to meet the new requirements as the new season approached.

"Following a period of intense speculation over recent months, I am delighted to confirm that the club has achieved confirmation that it meets bronze licence criteria," City chairman John Dickson said on his club website.

For a bronze licence, a club's manager and one of the first-team coaches is required to hold a Uefa B licence coaching badge, a club doctor is required at home games, while stadia are required to have a minimum of 500 covered spaces for supporters as opposed to 100 at entry level.

"Although achieving the bronze licence is the culmination of a massive amount of work behind the scenes, I actually see it as the beginning of a new chapter for the club," Dickson said.

City received a six-point deduction by the SPFL last season after failing to pay players wages on time in November and, with several players having decided to leave the club, were relegated after finishing bottom of League 1.

However, manager Michael McIndoe has signed 16 players in the last three days as they prepare for the new campaign.

"Over the last six months, the club has frankly been through some of the most challenging times in its history," Dickson added.

"However, with today’s announcement, I hope that we can now begin to face the future with renewed optimism. We have a tremendous amount of news to come."