Stewart Petrie has tasted promotion as a player and as a coach.
And now he is on the verge of completing the hat-trick as a manager.
Around 2,000 fans are expected to pack Links Park this afternoon as the Gable Endies seek the win or draw that will clinch the League Two title for them.
Petrie praised his players for exceeding his expectations for the season, and a good bit more, by getting into this position.
And now he wants them to sample the joy of a title triumph.
“When I was at Dunfermline under Bert Paton we won the league on the last day of the season,” he recalled.
“And I was the assistant manager at Arbroath.
“It’s a great feeling and I’d love it if these players experienced it.
“Most of them probably haven’t been in this position before. It’s unbelievable that we’ve come this far from where we were last season. Credit is due to the players and the board.
“We’ve given ourselves a real chance and if we don’t get over the line it won’t be for a lack of effort. We’ll be giving everything.”
Montrose are certainly in form going into today’s clash against mid-table Elgin City.
Their recent statistics are very much those of champions in waiting.
Five games in a row have been won – their best league run of the season – and not one goal has been conceded.
Petrie said: “The boys have taken really well to the three at the back this season and in those last five games we’ve had a settled defence.
“When you give yourself a platform like that, you’ve got a great chance.
“Scoring early goals certainly helps as well and we’ll be looking to come out of the traps fast tomorrow again.
“We’re hoping that there might be around 2,000 in the ground which would be great. 600 made the trip to Stenhousemuir.
“We got all the stuff like tickets for the players out of the road on Tuesday and now the lads are focused on the job.
“We’ll go about it the same way as we always do – try to win the game.
“Elgin won’t be coming here to make up the numbers, though. They are a good side and we’ll need to be at our best. The good thing is, we don’t need to think about what’s going on elsewhere. It’s about what we do.”
Petrie has a full squad to choose from for the club’s big day.
