Peterhead Manager Jim McInally added a Scottish League 2 Manager of the Month Award for March to the League title his side won almost a fortnight ago.
Having had a period of time to reflect on their success McInally said: “It has been great to have these couple of weeks to sit back and think about how we went about securing the title. It is a very satisfying success and there have been lots of people who have helped us do it.”
“It is great that the club is now getting the attention it deserves and of course winning the first ever senior honour is a bit special.”
After 5 Highland League title successes the Blue Toon joined the senior ranks in 2000 and, whilst they have never won a Championship before, they were promoted as runners up to Gretna in 2005.
The following season they came within a penalty shoot-out of being promoted to the First Division before losing to Partick Thistle in the Play-Off Final.
However their stay in the Second Division ended in 2011 when they finished bottom and were relegated.
McInally was appointed to revive their fortunes in October 2011 and whilst he brought an upturn in fortunes that season he was unable to gain a promotion slot.
Last season saw McInally’s men finish second to Rangers however promotion was denied as they lost 1-0 to East Fife in the Play-Off finals.
There was no denying them this season and after hitting the front with a 3-0 win over Montrose in November, Peterhead have stayed at the summit with the exception of one week in December.
They have been unbeaten at home all season and McInally is in no need for that record to end and for the party to fall flat in tomorrow’s game with Stirling Albion.
McInally said: “We want to finish the season strongly as our performance against Albion Rovers showed last weekend.”
The former Morton and East Stirling manager reckons that the team spirit at the Blue Toon is the reason for their success however if things had not worked out he would have held his hands up and walked away.
“Team spirit has been the key and it is the same with all successful sides. Sometimes you have to move players on who are not helping in that way. Just over a year ago we lost a game at Clyde and I did not like a couple of things I saw that day on the pitch. The spirit was being affected by the actions of some players so a couple of them left.”
“The spirit changed and we went on a great run at the end of last season. That spirit remained in place at the start of this season and that made things all the sweeter when we won the League at Broadwood as there was as a great atmosphere with pals all celebrating together.”
McInally was also delighted for the fans of the club and he said: “We have a loyal band of supporters and some of them actually come on the bus to away games with us.”
“They all know the players and they know them as people as well. I reckon that you get better backing that way as the fans cut the players a bit of slack as they see them hurting when things go wrong.”
“It was great for the die-hards to see us win the League at Clyde and it will be great for everyone to see the trophy presented on Saturday”
If things had turned out differently for the Balmoor side McInally would have found himself out of work this summer at his own behest as he explained: “Last season we lost the title to Rangers and that was understandable. If we had not won it this season I would have walked away but whilst I was confident that I would not have to do that, I would have.”
“It would have been an underachievement for a second season as we were better than East Fife in the Play-Offs last May but they beat us 1-0. It would have been hard to lift people a second time and I would have done the right thing.”
“My wife thinks I was bonkers for thinking of leaving but I would have gone. I like to leave happy with friendships still in place and not going sour.”
Having the League clinched has allowed McInally to start planning for next season as he explained: “I will start working on next season now. I was not taking anything for granted before the League was clinched but I can start signing players up for next season now.”
“I do not think we need a major overhaul as we have a squad at a good age. People talk about the experience in our side but we have players still learning the game. Our 3 central defenders are only young and Rory McAllister is only 26. We need to add the right guys to help the players develop further.”
“I reckon that we need 2-3 players of the right quality.”
Talk of the club moving to a full time status bubbles in the background and McInally reckons it is a few seasons away yet as he explained: “We rely on individuals putting finance in above what the gates make us so it is difficult to say how high we can go. We need a bigger budget for logistical reasons as players will travel here to play if they are rewarded.”
“The Chairman Rodger Morrison and a Director Iain Grant have backed us well financially but more importantly there is a good relationship with the board and the players. Iain and another director Harry Fraser come to training and make tea and toast for the players. They don’t need to do that and they could pay people to do it but they want to help. Touches like that are important as they all lead to good relationships.”
Progression to full time could still happen with McInally advising: “There is talk of going for a community model like Ross County but we are not ready for that yet. Our Balmoor ground is potentially being redeveloped as part of a bigger sports project. If that comes off we could go towards full-time however it is difficult to make leap without community backing.
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