Harry Milne reckons Cove Rangers can achieve back-to-back promotions in their first year as a League 2 club.
Cove will begin their first season as an SPFL side at home to Edinburgh City on August 3 and Milne is excited at the Aberdeen club’s prospects in senior football.
They overcame Berwick Rangers in a two-legged play-off last month to achieve their dream of becoming an SPFL club.
Yesterday’s fixture release brought their achievements closer to home, with a Balmoral Stadium opener against City – who they faced in the SPFL play-offs in 2016 – coming before their first away game against Albion Rovers.
City themselves are chasing promotion to League 1 and Milne sees no reason why Cove cannot follow suit.
He said: “We’ve got a winning mentality and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be pushing, at least, for the play-offs. Every single game will be harder than last year but the boys are buzzing to get going.
“We can go up again. It’s the first time in the club’s history they’ve been promoted and seeing how much that meant to guys who have been at the club for 20 or 30 years. If we managed to do something like that again it would be brilliant.
“We’re not there just to stay up. We want to make an impact and finish in a positive position.
“You’ve seen some of the signings Edinburgh have made and they’ve improved their league position. We’ll be hoping to do something similar.”
Cove return for pre-season today, ahead of their first competitive fixture in the Betfred Cup against Peterhead on July 13.
The only major question mark hanging over the Highland League champions is the future of co-manager John Sheran.
After suffering a heart attack in April, Sheran took a backseat for Cove’s promotion push with fellow co-boss Graeme Mathieson and coach Roy McBain taking the reins. Sheran has been in constant dialogue with the coaching staff and chairman Keith Moorhouse but a decision on whether he will be in the dugout has not been announced.
Milne, who has won three Highland League titles under Sheran, hopes he will stay.
He added: “He has to look after himself. We would love to have back. It tells you how highly regarded he is at the club and all he’s done for the club, taking them into the league.
“Hopefully he is back as manager – that’s what the players want.
“Graeme and Roy have done a great job in his absence. Graeme knows the players inside out and has a good relationship with us. Roy has the experience of being an ex-pro.
“They’ve just implemented ideas that John Sheran had before, with one or two of their own. Training has been good and all the boys work hard for him.”