Edinburgh City manager Michael McIndoe believes his side can push for promotion this year, despite the five point deduction they began the season with.

After Edinburgh City’s encouraging performance against city rivals The Spartans where the Citizens were unlucky not to walk away with all three points, McIndoe believes his side can finish inside the play-offs despite the five point disadvantage.

Edinburgh City were hit with a 20 point deduction at the beginning of the 2025/26 season after a provisional liquidator was appointed to the club. Five of the 20 points were carried over into this campaign, while the club struggled to overcome the deduction last season and finished bottom of the SPFL, only maintaining their status by beating Brora Rangers in the SPFL Pyramid Play-Off.

Despite this, McIndoe told The Edinburgh Reporter: “Every season we should be pushing for promotion.”

He continued: “Our first year in this league we finished third, then we had top four form for six months last year. The minus fifteen points took a lot out of the players.

“This year once we get our heads above water we can start progressing up the table. Edinburgh City, every season we’re in this league we should be pushing for promotion that’s for sure.

“I know that sounds crazy because we’re the smallest team and we have the smallest budget, but we have recruited reasonably well in the summer. I think you’re seeing signs already that this team is gelling.”

Ricky Waugh’s first half strike gave Edinburgh the lead at Ainslie Park on Saturday. The Citizens thought they had dealt with The Spartans well until the 75th minute when the hosts were given a penalty for handball, which Marc McNulty converted. It looked as if all points had disappeared when Bradley Whyte put The Spartans ahead six minutes later, but substitute Innes Lawson scored the leveller in the 87th minute.

Michael McIndoe was appointed to the club in October 2023 and oversaw the club’s relegation into SPFL League Two. Since his appointment, the club finished third in League One and have been hit with a total of 26 points deducted.

McIndoe added: “We’ve got a lot of fight in us. I’ve been here three or four seasons and for three seasons we’ve had points deductions, we’re hoping we’re at the end of that now. The club’s a lot more organised, we do have a shortage of people behind the scenes and we’re not a massive club but we know that.

“We can punch well above our weight and the boys can perform.”