By Graeme Dey

LONG-SERVING Kevin McMullen insists Arbroath want to walk proudly into the second division through the front door—not sneak into it via Gretna’s demise.

If, as expected, the Raydale Park outfit go to the wall, both the Lichties and Stranraer—who meet tonight in the first leg of the promotion play-off final—will go up.

But full-back McMullen wants his side to wave goodbye to Division Three in style.

“We’re not thinking about the possibility we might be going up anyway,” he said.

“We are going into this game, and it’ll be the same come Saturday, looking to win it.

“And after our performance in beating Cowdenbeath in the semis we’re confident of doing that.

“The way we performed you couldn’t have told that they were the second division team.

“And we showed such character coming back from losing the opening goal.

“For me the display at Central Park was our best of the season and I think that with two games left we are peaking at the right time.

“It’s been tight between ourselves and Stranraer—there’s been three draws and a win for us so far this season—and these could be another couple of close-run matches.

“But we believe we can emerge from them as play-off winners.”

McMullen admits a positive ending to a campaign is overdue at Gayfield.

“It’s been an unbelievable last five or six years for Arbroath,” he went on.

“Not that long ago we were in the first division. Then we went into steady decline.

“But now there’s a chance of reversing that.

“And if we can get up to the second division and consolidate next season then who knows where we could go from there?”

The Lichties could have veteran striker Paul Tosh back this evening. He has been troubled by a calf complaint but completed a light training session on Monday and is rated 50-50 to make the game.

ARBROATH BOSS John McGlashan said, “We’d like to have Paul because not only is he a goal threat, by his mere presence in the opposition box he creates chances for other people.

“If he doesn’t make the first leg then I’d put money on him being ready to feature in some way down there on Saturday.”

Arbroath have Alan Rattray completing a two- match ban and wait for the results of a late fitness check on Bryan Scott (calf strain).

McGlashan echoed the appeal made by his chairman John Christison to the Arbroath public to turn out and support the club tonight.

“Realistically, with this being a third trip to Angus for Stranraer in the space of 10 days, they aren’t going to bring many fans with them, especially for a midweek fixture,” he said.

“But if we could get a 1000 of our own supporters along and making the kind of noise those who followed us to Cowdenbeath made, then we’ll have the type of atmosphere my players will respond to.

“When we came out at Central Park we were greeted by a sea of maroon and what a racket those fans made.

“I cannot stress enough how helpful a similar backing against Stranraer would be.”

As with the semi-final, McGlashan reckons the tie will still be in the melting pot when the final whistle sounds tonight.

“The outcome won’t be settled in the first leg, so we won’t be going for broke just because we are at home,” he said.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from three years contesting play-offs it’s that they last 180 minutes and sometimes longer.”

Stranraer boss Derek Ferguson, meanwhile, is backing Gregory Tade and Michael Mullen—who’ve netted 28 times between this season—to cause the Lichties problems.

“These two guys have been outstanding and have contributed to the magnificent run we have been on,” said Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Arbroath are running subsidised fans’ buses to Stranraer for Saturday’s second leg of the play-off.

Places will cost £10 a head for adults and children, and tickets will be on sale before and after the match at Gayfield this evening in the club shop.

Places can also be booked between 9am and 1pm on weekdays at Gayfield and between 6pm and 7pm tomorrow. The buses will leave Gayfield at 9am on Saturday.