MONTROSE COULD hardly be in better shape as they prepare to welcome Rangers to a sold-out Links Park today.
A six-game unbeaten run four wins, two draws and 14 goals scored has seen them shoot up the table into a play-off spot in Division Three.
If that were not enough, the cherry on the cake came yesterday when Stuart Garden was named IRN-BRU Phenomenal Third Division manager of the month for November.
Garden admitted he was “absolutely delighted” to receive the recognition but also quickly moved to praise others for their role in what is his first award of that kind.
He reckons the upturn in the Angus club’s fortunes have been brought about through the foundations laid by former bosses Steven Tweed and Ray Farningham, as well as a strong mentality among his players.
The 40-year-old former Dundee United goalkeeper took his first steps towards management as the goalkeeping coach at Inverness Caledonian Thistle then moved to Links Park as part of Tweed’s backroom team that also included Farningham.
When Tweed left nearly two years ago due to work commitments, his assistant Farningham replaced him and Garden became his number two.
When Farningham left to become assistant manager at Dundee in the summer Garden stepped up.
He said: “When Ray said he was leaving for Dundee we had a conversation and he asked me if I wanted the job.
“He said if I did he would speak to the board and recommend me.
“I went away and thought about it for a couple of days and took advice from my father-in-law, (Aberdeen coach) Jocky Scott, and told Ray I wanted it.
“I then spoke to the board and here I am.
“It was one of those situations in life where I knew if I did not go for it I would have regretted it.
“I have to say that Ray left me a fantastic platform to work on as he had re-signed 10 of the players so I was able to get to work quickly.
“We quietly set the target of the play-offs with the players we are in there now and hope to stay there.
“You could say that we have emerged as a candidate and long may it stay that way.”
Former Scotland, Dundee and United defender Lee Wilkie is Garden’s assistant and the duo have worked hard on turning their players into winners.
The Gable Endies’ gaffer added: “We believed in the guys from an early stage.
“We wanted to instil a winning mentality into them and they have responded.
“We have ground out some wins without playing at our best and wins build confidence.”
Garden’s job is to shut out all the build-up to this big one against the Ibrox club and focus only on the football.
However, it has been difficult to ignore.
“This is a great game for all of us and one that has the whole of Montrose buzzing,” said Garden.
“It is the fixture we looked out for when we realised what would be happening to Rangers and we can’t wait.
“We are in pretty good shape going into it, too, with the last six games having gone well for us.
“I think, given the form we are in, we can be quietly confident about really testing them.
“I appreciate they have a fair number of international players and have found their feet in the division now.
“But I believe my players will give a good account of themselves.
“As for me, if you had told me even a year ago that I would be managing a team against Rangers with Ally McCoist in the other dugout I wouldn’t have believed you.
“That’s the way it has turned out, though, and it will be good to pit my wits against someone like him who has done so much in the game.”
iroache@thecourier.co.uk