KELTY HEARTS could learn today whether their pyramid play-off tie with Brora Rangers will go ahead as planned.

The New Central Park side were, on March 30, declared champions of the Lowland League on a Points-Per-Game (PPG) average for a second successive season following a vote by member clubs.

Barry Ferguson's men were top of the table in January when all football beneath the SPFL Championship was suspended – initially for three weeks – due to concerns over rising COVID-19 cases across Scotland, with lockdown restrictions also in place.

Although the Scottish Cup, in which Kelty played their last game on January 9, SPFL League One and League Two, and the Scottish Women's Premier League One were allowed to return last month – on the basis they undertook weekly testing – non-league football remained out of action.

Under the Scottish Government's coronavirus route map, adult contact sport is not due to resume until May 17, leading to nine clubs supporting a move to declare the Lowland League using PPG, which left Hearts top with 2.77.

On the same day, the Highland League declared Brora – who were top but had only played three games – winners of their division, which would allow both clubs to move forward to contest the pyramid play-offs.

On Thursday April 8, Kelty were granted a professional sport exemption that would allow them to resume training ahead of the matches, which had been speculated to take place on April 24 and May 1.

However, 24 hours later, the SPFL announced that they were "considering several issues relating to the pyramid play-offs", and that they were "not in a position to announce dates" for the games.

The governing body said that, at its meeting next week, its board would determine whether each club met its membership criteria, after which they would announce their position on the matter.

An SPFL spokesperson said: "Given that there are a number of uncertainties, including whether League Two clubs will play 22 or 18 games this season, we are not in a position to announce dates for pyramid play-off ties this season.

"Whilst we understand that this lack of certainty will be disappointing to supporters of Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts, it is important that we are entirely fair to all clubs, including the SPFL club that finishes bottom of League Two this season.

"Our approach has always been to apply the rules that have been agreed by all member clubs, as well as the pyramid play-off rules agreed between the SPFL, the Scottish FA, the Lowland League and the Highland League, and we will do so again this season."

If the play-offs go ahead, the winner of the tie between Kelty and Brora would move forward to play the team that finishes bottom of League Two, also over two legs.

The team currently occupying bottom spot is Brechin City, who are six points adrift of ninth-placed Annan Athletic.

The Glebe Park club, whose chairman, Ken Ferguson, resigned as the SPFL board's League One and League Two director last week, finished bottom last season after it was called using PPG following the outbreak of the pandemic.

However, despite Kelty and Brora having been declared winners of their respective leagues, the pyramid play-offs were scrapped controversially, while proposals for league reconstruction were also rejected by clubs in the SPFL.