Airdrieonians Supporters Trust and Supporters Direct Scotland have launched a petition to protect the community value of clubs’ crests.

The petition aims to call upon supporters to come together and unite to protect their clubs’ crest, which both Airdrieonians Supporters Trust and Supporters Direct Scotland deem to have community value.

Andrew Jenkin, Head of Supporters Direct Scotland said “Cases such as this require fans to come to come together, show their strength and hope common sense can prevail. Clubs are assets of community value and their stadia, their names, their colours and crests are extensions of these.  The situation Airdrieonians find themselves in only sees supporters and their communities lose out. We hope this petition can gain traction with fans, get them to unite for a common cause and encourage the relevant decision makers to see how much this means to them as they are more than worth listening to”.

Willie Marshall, Chairman of Airdrieonians Supporters Trust said "The Supporters Trust are disappointed that the Lord Lyons office have used an archaic law to deem the club badge illegal and have further threatened prosecution if we continue to use it. It seems nonsensical that a law designed to regulate heraldry in 16th century Scotland is being applied to contemporary football club badges. The implications, were this to be applied on a wider scale to other clubs, are extremely concerning. Our hope is that the Lord Lyon's office re-examines this decision and considers whether it is in the public interest to pursue this issue".

The petition comes after Airdrieonians FC were asked to change their badge by the office of Lord Lyon King of Arms as it breaks a law dating back to the 16th Century.

The Diamonds have been told they can ultimately be prosecuted if they continue to operate with the badge which is deemed illegal, due to the fact it contains letters within the 'shield'.

A Scottish Parliament Act passed in 1592 gives the court of the Lord Lyon – which has its own procurator fiscal – responsibility for prosecuting anyone who uses unauthorised arms and it is thought that dozens of other clubs may fall foul of the historic rules and that this could be the thin end of the wedge.