Cove Rangers are “considering all available options” after the SPFL imposed a season-long registration embargo on the Scottish League 1 club for rule breaches. The tribunal’s sanction includes a registration embargo that will remain in place until 31 May 2027, along with a fine of £5,000, of which £2,000 is suspended.
The league body said the club admitted “failing to make a historic contractual payment to a player when due and then failed to notify the SPFL that it had been in default of that rule”. The SPFL added that Cove Rangers were also found to have provided incorrect information when certifying that they had no overdue payables to current or former players as at 31 January 2026. The club has since made full payment to the player involved.
In a statement, Cove Rangers acknowledged the SPFL’s decision “concerning a historic contractual payment from 2024 and subsequent reporting matters”. The club said it was “disappointed by the severity of the sanctions” and was carefully reviewing the decision while considering all available options.
The embargo arrives with Paul Hartley’s side struggling in League 1. Cove sit second bottom of the table, a point above Queen of the South, having collected five points from their opening eight fixtures.