KILWINNING Rangers boss Chris Strain says his side feel “aggrieved” and “disappointed” after rivals Auchinleck Talbot were declared West Premiership champions – despite being 12 points behind the Buffs in the standings.

Talbot were controversially awarded the title based on a points per game average for home and away fixtures after the Scottish Junior Association ended the season due to the pandemic.

Kilwinning Rangers had won 53 points from their 25 games compared to Talbot’s 41 points from 16 games.

Strain said: “I feel disappointed. Disappointed for the efforts the players put in over the course of the season and for a committee to award a league to someone else is disappointing.

“I don’t think Auchinleck wanted the league, I don’t think they feel comfortable by being awarded the league. They did not win the league and from our point of view we would not have felt comfortable if we were awarded the league either.”

He continued: “For me, the science behind how they have come to the conclusion that Auchinleck have been the best team over the course of the season is not accurate. Our boys feel a bit aggrieved that we have put a lot of effort and hard work and it stands for absolutely nothing.”

Now the Buffs boss is looking forward to next season in the new West of Scotland Football League.

He said: “As a club we will use this setback as motivation for next year and ensure that we are doubly determined it does not come down to fate again.”

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