By Graeme Dey

ARBROATH chairman John Christison admitted last night that he opposed the introduction of the SFL play-off system which could now provide his club with a promotion lifeline!

Victory over bottom-of-the-table East Stirling on Saturday will guarantee the Red Lichties fourth place in Division Three and a two-leg meeting with either Alloa or Dumbarton at the semi-final stage of the play-offs.

That’s a scenario which would of course delight Christison though he is honest enough to confess he feels the arrangement is unfair on the side who finish second top of the table only to be denied an automatic step up.

“I voted against the play-offs because I believe them to be unfair,’’ he admitted. “But from an Arbroath standpoint I am delighted they are with us this year.

“If I was Cowdenbeath or Berwick I wouldn’t be too happy with the situation because points-wise they are streets ahead of the rest of us.

“However, from an Arbroath perspective, having the goal of making the top four has been fantastic. But for that, our season would have been over when we walked off the park against Hibs in the Scottish Cup back in January.’’