Peterhead manager Jim McInally wants the Petrofac Training Cup final to be played at Pittodrie if Rangers beat St Mirren in their semi-final.
Blue Toon supporters have spent the weekend celebrating their side reaching the first senior cup final in the club’s history after Saturday’s 2-1 win against Queen’s Park at Hampden.
The other semi-final, between Championship leaders Rangers and eighth-placed St Mirren, is being held on Saturday week and McInally expects the Gers to beat the Buddies at Ibrox in the lunchtime kick-off.
Such a prospect would set up a tantalising final for Blue Toon supporters on April 10 nextyear and McInally believes Pittodrie would provide the perfect platform for his club to build its supporter base for what will be the biggest occasion yet in Peterhead’s history. No Challenge Cup final has been staged farther north than Dundee’s Dens Park, which hosted the 2007 final, but McInally said: “It is good for the town. I have been at Peterhead a few years now and have got to know the community quite well.
“Most of the town supports Rangers anyway so they could maybe play the final in Aberdeen.”
Regardless of who the Blue Toon face in the final, McInally hopes his club can capitalise on its achievement and attract more supporters through the turnstiles.
He added: “It is fantastic. There is a slump in business in the north-east just now so this will be a lift for the town, especially with the final being so far away.
“We will be able to build up to it and hopefully we can bring more interest to the club on the back of it.”
Following Saturday’s semi-final win, Peterhead get back to league action tonight when Stranraer visit Balmoor on League 1 duty (8.0).
McInally plans on freshening up his squad for the game.
Full back Cammy Kerr is available again after suspension, while defender Ally Gilchrist and midfielders Jamie Stevenson and Simon Ferry are all in contention.
McInally said: “It’s a big game for us as Stranraer beat us five times last season and caused us a lot of problems.
“We stopped that sequence by beating them at their place earlier in the season and it would be nice to do it again, but we may have to make changes.”