Bonnyrigg Rose hit with 6 point deduction by SPFL after breaching pitch standard regulations

The League Two club will drop to eighth place as a result

Bonnyrigg Rose have been hit with a six point deduction for breaching SPFL rules due to the pitch at New Dundas Park.

The League Two club saw the SFA downgrade their club license from the mandatory Bronze level to Entry level which they said was down to the 'gradient of the pitch' at their stadium. It's now been found at a disciplinary meeting that they have failed to bring it up to scratch in time and they have been docked six points as a result.

It means they are the second club this season to be hit with a deduction after Inverness went into administration and were hit with a 12-point sanction. It means Rose, currently fifth in League One on 17 points, will drop to eighth place, just two points ahead of bottom two Clyde and Forfar Athletic. It's a serious dent in their promotion hopes and leaves them in a relegation battle despite a promising start to the season.

The club have since posted a link to a JustGiving page on their social media asking supporters for their help in raising funding towards 'levelling the pitch and improving draining' to 'ensure compliance with league membership.' They hope to raise £120,000 of investment.

An SPFL statement reads: "Bonnyrigg Rose FC has today 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 FC’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 FC were therefore charged with a breach of SPFL Rules.

"At a hearing today (Tuesday 12 November, 2024) an SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal imposed the following sanctions for the club’s failure to maintain a Bronze level Licence:

• (i) The club was reprimanded and warned as to their future conduct;
• (ii) The club was deducted six points with immediate effect; and
• (iii) The club was directed that no later than 31 January, 2025 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.

"The William Hill League 2 table will be updated accordingly."