Les Thomson believes investment will improve Shire

The league's management committee voted against reducing the Falkirk club to associate members, giving them two years to improve or face being ejected.

That was despite Shire finishing bottom of Division Three for the fifth season running to risk losing voting rights.

But the club were warned that they would lose their full member status if they finish bottom again next season.

It was the first time a new rule had come into play that a club finishing bottom two years in a row would face such a vote.

I told them about Spencer Fearn's investment in the club and our determination to get things right East Stirlingshire secretary Les Thomson

Had Shire lost out at Hampden Park, they would have had two years to win back full membership or face being voted out the league.

Shire secretary Les Thomson had appeared before the committee to outline ways in which the club was attempting to improve its performances.

"I told them about Spencer Fearn's investment in the club and our determination to get things right," Thomson told the club website.

"I reminded them that we were re-introducing youth and children's football, getting involved with the community and the fact that we would be able to attract much better players.

"We have been given one more year to improve, but I left the meeting telling them that I didn't think I would be back in front of them next year."

Fearn's �40,000 investment in the club will allow "vastly-improved wages for the first-team squad".