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While the club looks to make history this week by winning its first ever tilt at the SPFL Championship playoff final, and secure a return to the second tier, boss Paul Hartley also has a notable target in his sights.

Should he lead us up out of League One, the gaffer will emulate one of the most colourful characters in the game as the manager with most promotions in Scottish League football.

Dick Campbell currently has six to his name having elevated Brechin City twice, Partick Thistle, Forfar Athletic and Arbroath twice between 2001 and 2019.

He could add to that tally this year, his East Fife side taking on Annan Athletic in their own playoff final, but for now he stands on half a dozen as a manager, and Paul is looking to match that in the coming days.

He clinched promotion for Alloa Athletic in his first season in charge, romping to the Third Division title in 2011-12, and followed that by finishing runners-up in the Second the following year. Alloa then edged out Brechin City in the semi-final and beat Dunfermline Athletic in the playoff final to secure a place in the Championship.

Those back-to-back promotions inevitably drew attention to the young gaffer, and when Dundee sacked John Brown in February 2014, they turned to Paul. He did not let them down, guiding the Dens Park side to the title, and promotion to the Premiership, with a last day victory over Dumbarton, just holding off Hamilton who finished their campaign with a remarkable 10-2 win against Greenock Morton.

Paul has, of course, since added to his total with Cove Rangers, winning both the League Two crown in our debut season of 2019-20 and League One a couple of years later.

He admits he had no idea he was on the verge of such a major achievement:

“That came as a surprise, and it would be a very proud moment if we can get that promotion.

“I’ve had well over five hundred games in management now, and you do look back and remember the successful times. So many players I’ve worked with, the staff, they’ve all played a major part in those memorable moments.

“It would be really nice to get that sixth one, and it would be reward for everyone at the club, on and off the pitch.”

After a long hard campaign, like his team, Paul now stands on the verge of another historic achievement.

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