Getting ideas above their station has not been the way Cove Rangers want to do business.
Right back at the start of the season, with the recruitment of Paul Hartley as manager and the signing of players like Fraser Fyvie, their level of ambition was clear without needing to shout it from the rooftops.
They led the league from start to finish, 28 games sitting atop the division when the SPFL’s resolution to terminate the season was passed on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a surreal feeling for chairman Keith Moorhouse, who knew exactly what he was getting into last year when Cove earned promotion to the SPFL. This time around, although they are League 2 champions, who knows what the leagues may look like the next time a ball is kicked.
“It’ll be an interesting time and who knows where we end up,” he said. “It’s a surreal feeling to sit and know that you are the league champions but will you be in League 1 next year? Who knows. We’re just happy to be part of the SPFL. We’re the new boys on the block and we’ll continue to play that role until someone else comes along.
“We can’t be making demands of clubs that have been involved int he Scottish leagues for many years. We have to respect that and that’s how we’ve gone about our business.
“We were coming into League 2 with intentions but the right thing to do for lots of reasons, because we were new boys in the setup, was to play everything down. Take the pressure off the lads and the club, for us not to be seen as the big-time Billys.”
That approach is something they have continued throughout the fraught and at-times vitriolic narrative around the SPFL’s handling of the motion.
They were one of the clubs that stood to benefit from it, so stirring the pot with ill-judged public statements was not going to be on the cards.
Moorhouse was always cognisant of the circumstances in the wider world, which has been lost sight of in some quarters where ugly squabbling has taken over.
He said: “We have a video call with the board three times a week and we’re all on the same page. We’ve kept away from the whole thing – we’ve avoided being sucked into that whole thing. It’s not something you can influence or take any pleasure out of. It’s best to sit tight, keep your head down and wait for things to be done formally.
“I would like to think we’ve handled ourselves well through this process, not forgetting that football is not the most important thing when you’ve got thousands of people losing their lives.
“A lot of people have been focused on more important matters. The people who have lost sight of the more important matters maybe need to take a look in the mirror at themselves. We’ve kept our head down and think we’ve handled things the right way, in making sure everyone is staying at home and doing the right things by their families. Right now that’s the most important thing.
“What we’ve achieved, is what we’ve achieved. We need to make sure that we’re all still here together for the start of next season, whenever that is and whatever that looks like. That’s for another day.”
More than 20 years involved with Cove has given Moorhouse significant experience of football’s highs and lows. A year prior to their promotion-winning game against Berwick Rangers, their chance at promotion had been blown away in a turbulent afternoon at Cowdenbeath.
That is why he appreciates the work manager Hartley has done in taking Cove to the title. Hartley has admitted himself he took a period of reflection after losing his job with Falkirk, with another league success adding a little bit more gloss to his CV.
“I’m beyond pleased for Paul,” said Moorhouse. “I’m not someone who says thinngns that are controversial but Paul has had a difficult journey. I’ve found him nothing but brilliant to deal with. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s said he’s learned a lot from his period out of the game.
“He looked at himself and worked out the things he needed to do more of, things he needed to do less of. We’ve benefited from that as a club and the players have benefited from it as well. His coaching techniques are outstanding.”
