Scottish League playoffs

Tonight’s game between Ayr United and Airdrie United, is the first leg of the First Division playoff final, and is live on BBC Alba - while Cowdenbeath take on Stenhousemuir in the first leg of the Second Division playoff final.

Ayr United are trying to get back into the First Division after five years in the Second Division since there relegation after the 2003-04 season.

Airdrie United on the other hand, are playing in their third First Division playoff final in a row - having been relegated losing the final to Stirling Albion in 2006-07, and failing to go up last season when Clyde retained their First Division status by beating them in the final - only then to be promoted by way of Gretna’s demise!

Airdrieonians were also denied promotion to the Premier League in 1996-97 by way of the short-lived playoff systems, when they lost over two legs to Hibs - those playoffs lasted for three years and saw one team (Dundee United) promoted while the other two times they Premier League team won over the two legs.

Cowdenbeath were relegated from the Second Division by way of the playoffs last season, and are aiming to bounce straight back - Stenhousemuir have been in the Third Division for three seasons, and failed to gain promotion by way of the playoffs in 2005-06 when they finished third but were knocked out in the first round.

This is the fourth season of the new playoffs, and while there are both supporters and detractors, there is no doubt that they will mean something for all four of these teams.

Playoffs are nothing new in Scottish football, given that the first ever season in 1890-91 went to a playoff for the league title - but since Dumbarton and Rangers drew 2-2 in the playoff, it was decided that the league should be shared.

Playoffs were also used in 1897-98, 1899-00 and 1905-06 to settle relegation from the First Division but I guess the most important playoff ever (to-date) was when Celtic won the 1904-05 league title, by beating Rangers in a playoff 2-1 - can you imagine if the teams finish even this season on points and the league suggested a playoff?