Darvel boss expecting tough challenges as his side bid to win Lowland League promotion

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Michael Kennedy is expecting two tough challenges as Darvel gear-up for a potentially historic week in East Ayrshire.The Irvine Valley side’s play-offs start as they head to Kirkcudbright tonight to take on South of Scotland League winners St Cuthbert Wanderers before hosting East of Scotland League winners Tranent on Saturday.Tranent defeated St Cuthbert’s 7-0 on Sunday, so a win for Darvel against the SoSL side with set up a winner-take-all clash with the East Lothian side this weekend.The successful side in the mini-league will replace Vale of Leithen in the Lowland League.And ‘Vale boss Kennedy says he won’t be taking any of the clashes lightly.Speaking to Doon the Brae TV he said: “St Cuthbert’s have had a really good season, we’ve managed to get them watched a few times and it will definitely be a challenge.“When you take everything into account, you’re driving two hours down there on a Wednesday night it’s not ideal.“We will be fully prepared for the challenge that lies ahead, but I think it will be a really difficult task.“I know people think because we’ve won the West of Scotland League this will be easy, but it genuinely won’t be, it’ll be a real challenge getting through these two play-off games.“And I know Tranent really well, I am mates with the manager and we played them pre-season.“They’ve done very well, they looked like they were out of it at one point but they did incredibly well to turn it round.”Kennedy has made it clear before that he has a five-year plan in which he hopes to be an SPFL side.Heading into the Lowland League on year four of his time at Darvel would leave that right on track, despite missing a year due to Covid.He said: “You’ve always got internal expectations in terms of where you