The Buckeyes were crowned Highland League champions for the 12th time last Saturday when they edged out Brechin City on goal difference.
However, the mood quickly soured with the SFA announcing that he would be ineligible to play.
An SFA spokesman pointed out that all Highland and Lowland League clubs were told in December that they would have to meet the SPFL’s latest membership criteria requirements.
A spokesman said on Thursday: “The Scottish FA’s Club Licensing Department has since been in regular contact with Bucky Thistle to inform the club, and allow sufficient time to resolve, their club’s The Licensing Report highlights,” the spokesperson said on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, these issues were not addressed by the club prior to yesterday’s Licensing Committee decision.”
An SPFL spokesman added that the bookies “failed to respond to any of the three subsequent letters sent in October, February and March”.
The club had also “failed to apply for a grace period by the March 31, 2024 deadline”.
The spokesman added: “The SPFL board has a lot of sympathy for the bookies and their fans but has no option but to enforce our rules.”
The bookie quickly claimed that they had asked for a grace period on April 23 for four items and “we were ridiculed for three items – floodlights, safety officers and diversity and inclusion”.
“One item – the medical – has been postponed until May 15, but the club has committed to resolve the matter by May 10,” he said.
“It goes without saying that everyone at the club has been stunned and devastated by the timing of this decision.”
East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy said that while he was delighted to reach the next round, it was “not the way I wanted to progress” and he was “sorry to everyone connected with Bucky Thistle”.
Currently, Clyde are the team most likely to face his side in the play-offs as they are one point behind Stranraer and three behind Bonnyrigg Rose at the foot of League 2 with two games remaining.
The play-offs will be played over two legs on May 11 and 18.
Credit : www.bbc.com
