BONNYRIGG ROSE are fighting for their future in the SPFL after landing a SIX-POINT penalty for their sloping pitch.
And stunned club chiefs revealed they are in a desperate race to raise more than £100,000 for repairs after being hit with another Hampden deadline.
1
Rose were plunged into the League Two relegation scrap after blazers punished them for the “gradient” at New Dundas Park.
They were also “reprimanded and warned as to their future conduct” – just two months after their Club Licence was downgraded by the SFA.
And they have been given until the end of January to prove they have the cash to start “pitch levelling work” in the close-season – or they could face another Hampden probe.
SunSport understands Rose chiefs – still mourning the death of chairman Charlie Kirkwood less than a fortnight ago – are furious at the punishment.
read more football stoires
They immediately launched a crowdfunding campaign, pleading: “The Rosey Posey, the heartbeat to our community, needs your help.
“We are fundraising to help towards levelling the pitch as well as improve draining etc to ensure compliance with league membership.”
The six-point penalty drops Calum Elliot’s side from fifth place – two points outside the promotion play-offs – to eighth, just two points above Clyde and Forfar.
And it confirms their worst fears after revealing details of the pitch problems in the wake of the club’s recent AGM.
A Rose statement read: “Currently our pitch gradient does not meet the bronze level requirement for the SPFL.
“Our ambition was to replace the grass at New Dundas Park with a synthetic surface.
“Changing the pitch surface became our focus, rather than levelling the pitch, as levelling was identified as being a wasted investment and unnecessary additional time and effort.
“Unfortunately, due to factors outside of our control both with central funding delays and following ground surveying works we have been unable to progress as we would have liked.
“We now need to raise the funds to complete the levelling and drainage requirements. We expect the costs of this to be over £100,000.”
The SPFL statement read: “Bonnyrigg Rose has received a six-point deduction following an SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal into SPFL Rule breaches, which were admitted by the club.
“In September 2024, the Scottish FA downgraded Bonnyrigg Rose’s overall Club Licence award from Bronze level to Entry level, due to the gradient of the pitch at the club’s New Dundas Park.
“It is an SPFL Rule that all clubs must have a Bronze level Scottish FA Club Licence and Bonnyrigg Rose were therefore charged with a breach of SPFL Rules.
“At a hearing today, an SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal imposed the following sanctions for the Club’s failure to maintain a Bronze level Licence:
“The club was reprimanded and warned as to their future conduct.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“The club was deducted six points with immediate effect.
“The club was directed that no later than January 31 it provides details to the SPFL Board of the funding arrangements and programme of works to allow the club to undertake pitch levelling works in summer 2025.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
