Airdrieonians boss Rhys McCabe insists the Diamonds can mix it in the Championship next term following their dramatic promotion.
The West Lothian ace ended his first season in management in style as Airdrie defeated Hamilton Accies on penalties to ensure they would be plying their trade in the second tier for the first time in a decade next season.
McCabe, and assistant manager Callum Fordyce, made headlines in the summer when appointed aged 29 and 30 respectively, but the pair have guided the Diamonds to success.
McCabe said: “I think the club has massive potential, you saw that with the fan-base who always get behind us.”
He went on: “I think that our style suits going up a league. I don’t think there’s much difference in terms of quality, especially this year, and I have said that probably three or four times this season.
“We played against Dundee earlier in the season when we had seven 17-year-olds on the pitch, and matched them up until extra-time.
“That should give us great belief that we can go and certainly challenge, with a fully-fit squad, and we can get good additions that can take us to that next step. It’s where we probably should be, in terms of stature, but you’re given nothing in football. We’re going to have to go and earn it, go and grab it.”
McCabe also heaped praise on the club’s hierarchy for taking the bold decision to hand him the managerial gig following the departure of Ian Murray to Raith Rovers.
He added: “For the guys upstairs, they’ve backed me, especially when we were under a lot of scrutiny – it’s our first job, no experience, all the rest of that malarkey. To have their support, backing and trust, and to give them something to cheer about means the world.
“I’m on a pathway, I’m very clear in terms of where I’m going to go. There will be bumps in the road, and you’re going to expect that, but I have got to thank and appreciate the guys upstairs.”
He added: “It’s not an easy decision to put in someone like myself and Dycey – a management team with no experience – especially after the last few years, losing finals and whatnot, and just having that attitude.
“To stick their neck on the line and put their faith in us shows real commitment from them.”
Having missed out to Queen’s Park in the Championship play-off final last season, McCabe knew there wasn’t a great deal to do at Airdrie, but make quality additions.
He explained: “We said at the start of the year, and I made it very clear when I came in, that it was never about changing the whole squad or the dynamic – we were almost there.
“We kept a lot of the core members of the squad and added in real quality, so it was about tweaking little individual things and collective things as a squad. Throughout the season you saw that. The stats are there in black and white.
“The support was fantastic, and for me as a manager now and a player that’s what I’m trying to do – get your average Joe into the stadium, coming to watch Airdrie.
“You see that there, that’s where Airdrie should be. But just because we’ve maybe got a decent fan-base we’re not guaranteed anything – we’ve got the deliver on the pitch for them to come and support.
“I think that we have managed that.”
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