Delighted Derek McInnes hailed his Kilmarnock players for “killing the chief” and securing the Championship title with a dramatic last gasp winner at Rugby Park.
The Killie boss admitted his side had to stick a knife in the Arbroath fairytale and avoid the scrap going to a final night shootout next Friday.
And in front of an electric 11,500 crowd Blair Alston struck an 89th minute clincher to spark frenzied scenes as Kilmarnock fans lapped up their side’s promotion back to the top flight.
Arbroath had looked set to take the destiny of the Championship title into their own hands as James Craigen slotted them into a ninth minute lead.
But Ash Taylor’s 78th minute equaliser teed up the most dramatic of endings.
Killie were four points off the top and looking uncertain for a play-off spot when McInnes took over at the turn of the year.
But he has delivered the ultimate prize after taking 30 points from 16 games.
And McInnes said: “I’m just happy for so many people. It’s not easy winning leagues and when you see the crowd turn up tonight, we were too anxious, too excitable in the first half.
“There was pressure on us tonight and the whole country outwith Kilmarnock seemed like they wanted Arbroath to win it and I get that, it’s a great story. They still might get there.
“But the best team wins the league and we are the best team, that’s a fact.
“We have had to do it the hard way.
“It would have been tough for us to go again and prepare for Raith Rovers. The boys sniffed it - we felt tonight was the night we had to do it.
“Our best opportunity was tonight.
“Normally you have to beat your closest competitors, you have to kill the chief.
“Arbroath have been the chiefs all season, they have been up there, terrific.
“When we came in Killie weren’t even looking convincing to be in the play-offs. But we have beaten Inverness here, Raith Rovers here and Partick here. All the teams round about us. It just left Arbroath and we needed to do it tonight.”
McInnes was delighted to settled a thrilling title bout in front of Killie’s own supporters.
And he added: “It was important we had this occasion. We’ve only ever won two titles and we’ve never won one at Rugby Park. It was important that the fans saw the teams delivering tonight.
“It was magic to see the place full. I think it was the biggest Killie support since the 90s.
“It shows what can be done here. We’ve a big summer ahead but these things can wait”
