Will there be far-reaching consequences for famous old Junior outfit Petershill if the WoSFL provides an escape route for a predicament that has fallen upon BSC Glasgow?

The question is posed by a seemingly acrimonious split in the Lowland League side’s ranks that is set to quite literally separate the men from the boys … and not just in a playing sense.

BSC Glasgow FC currently play out of Recreation Park, home of Alloa Athletic, and have gained recognition for being one of the more ambitious Tier Five clubs, despite origins as recent as 2014 when they were formed to act as a pathway into Senior football for burgeoning Broomhill Sports Club’s youth team players.

A first silverware success arrived through winning the 2019 Lowland League Cup and last season BSC were mounting a strong title challenge until Covid-19 lockdown restrictions brought the curtain down on Lowland League football and saw leading lights Kelty Hearts declared champions.

A further setback occurred last week when highly-regarded team boss Stephen Swift left to take up the reins of Stenhousemuir in League Two, yet it’s debatable whether the recent resignation of chairman Steven Prince might prove to be the biggest hammer blow of all.

He is thought to have gained exclusive rights to the BSC Glasgow name and has allegedly submitted an application to play in the WoSFL next season with a team whose primary purpose will be promoting young up-and-coming talents.

And his carefully thought out plans are believed to include entering into negotiations with the Partick Thistle Charitable Trust for BSC to train and play their home games out of the Petershill Park Hub as a means of complying with strict WoSFL ground criteria.

What this unfolding sequence of events entails for Conference outfit Petershill is sure to emerge in the fullness of time but not yet having confirmation of their contractual entitlement to have first call on the Springburn facility will doubtless be causing Peasy club officials and supporters to have sleepless nights. 

Mr Prince’s vision was clearly at odds with that of his erstwhile BSC Board members George Fraser and Kenny Moyes, who intend to continue operating as a Lowland League club (even if legally forced into a change of name to Broomhill FC or similar), and those ambitions were spelt out at the weekend when former Partick Thistle and St Johnstone midfielder Martin Hardie was unveiled as Swifty’s managerial replacement.

Sure to be high up on the 45-year-old Hardie’s to-do list is unearthing a defender to fill the shoes of Kilwinning Rangers-bound Ross Smith, while ascertaining Pollok winger Darren Christie’s intentions for next season may also be uppermost in his thoughts.

A string of outstanding performances during his loan spell last season had earmarked the 33-year-old as a prime BSC close season signing target. However, it’s thought he is now on the verge of following Swift to Stenhousemuir, assuming a transfer deal can be struck with his WoSFL club.

Elsewhere on the comings and goings front, one hears of recently-resigned Cumbernauld United gaffer Keiran McAnespie taking up a backroom team role with Premier Division rivals Darvel, while Irvine Meadow is the destination for ex-Kilwinning Rangers stopper Jamie Whyte.

And a trio of Annbank United players - Alan Orr, Martyn Brown and Grant Richmond - have agreed to join Girvan, whose recent appointment of former Bankies management pair Matt Maley and Robert Love has had far-reaching repercussions for their Ayrshire rivals.

Annbank officials alarmed at the prospect of mounting a total rebuild from scratch have instead applied to take a year out of football - a request granted by the WoSFL board - however, there are fears the 82-year-old New Pebble Park outfit may never return to the game.

Meanwhile, there is also word afoot of an encouraging development for  WoSFL clubs emanating from the game of shinty of all places.

Caman wielders, like their lower league football counterparts, had plumped for a start back date of 17th July for a  “resumption of hostilities”. However, according to sources, the governing Camanachd Association have been informed spectators may be able to return on that date depending upon the lockdown tier applicable (see below) where games are taking place..

Tier 3) None
Tier 2) 250 fans maximum
Tier 1) All welcome

The Scottish Government does expect the entire country to have come through every tier by the end of June but their roadmap contrasts sharply with reasoning behind the decision to only grant approval for a maximum of 12,000 football fans (circa 25% capacity) to attend the Hampden Park-staged Euro matches taking place that month.

WoSFL clubs will understandably be concerned for this lack of clarity continuing to prevail over  how many spectators (if any) will be permitted through the turnstiles when their season gets underway, and so this reputed heads-up to the game of Shinty is sure to be warmly received.