Having covered the majority of the SFA's criteria for entry we will take a look at what is as near to a "Road Map to Entry" as there is thanks to information gleamed from former Inverurie Loco Works chairman Willie Lippe.

Having seen a fiery debate on the Rumours Page cool down slightly in the past 24 hours we also give you the chance to vote for or against allowing Shetland to a) enter the Fosters Highland League Cup b) enter the Highland League.

But on with the Road Map:

The first rule under the title of "Membership" in the constitution of the Highland Football League states that all clubs must be either Registered, Associate or Full Members of the Scottish Football Association Ltd. Therefore those criteria laid down by the SFA will have to be met or seen to be readily achievable before a club can seriously consider applying for HFL membership. Click here to access that story

Having done so generally a club representative would be advised to make an informal approach and possibly meet some members of the League Management Committee in order to sound out their initial proposal and to get a feel of the manner in which to approach the application.

From there a letter indicating the clubs wish to apply should be send indicating the background to the application. At this stage it would also be prudent to approach the regional FA with a similar application (for example clubs within Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray can approach the ADFA while those in Moray, the remainder of Grampian and the Highlands and Islands should approach the North FA).

A significant business plan should then be put in place, which outlines the following information:

Make up of the committee
Ground status and facilities
Location
Travelling Distances
Town Population
Financial Information
Club Sponsorship
Youth Development Programme
Proposed positive contribution to HFL
Long Term objectives and how membership of the HFL fit in with these.

The Highland Football League may then invite the club to give a presentation to the members of the League management committee. It is likely from there that a delegation will be sent out to inspect the facilities to ensure the validity of the claims.

Finally a vote is taken at the AGM which will decide whether or not the club has been successful in their bid. Note that only at an AGM (Annual General Meeting) or SGM (Special General Meeting) can a club be accepted into the Highland Football League.

In the case of the Inverurie Locos the SFA did not have a full list of criteria in place and, indeed, a number of their standards are based upon the application of the Locos. Following the initial inspection of facilities it is understood that modifications were required to the changing rooms, stand, turnstiles and lighting facilities at the ground.

Looking specifically at the rules for the Fosters Highland League Cup the most basic one is that you have to be a member of the Highland Football League in order to play in this competition. Therefore the clubs would have to technically approve Shetland's application to play in the HFL and if Shetland then decided that they did, in fact, want to play in the HFL they would be fully entitled to without the need for a further vote.

Finally what do you think about Shetland's interest in the Highland Football League? Would you welcome them? Let us know in the poll below.