From The Herald Sat 18th February: THEY cheered Paul Sheerin's name to the rafters when he delivered Arbroath's first national trophy in their 133-year history last season.
Goodness knows, then, what they will do if he manages to bring home another one. There had been no sightings of open-top buses or tickertape parades on the streets of the Angus town until last year when Sheerin, in his first season as player-manager, guided the local club to the third division championship.Sheerin made all the right noises the following summer about a season of consolidation in the second division but the bookmakers saw the experienced squad he was assembling and installed them among the favourites to win a second title in succession. So far, it is they, rather than the modest manager, who look to have called it right.
With 22 matches gone and 14 left to play, Arbroath find themselves in second place in the second division, a play-off spot all but already guaranteed. If they are to win the title they will need to close the four-point gap to leaders Cowdenbeath, who they welcome to Gayfield this afternoon for what could be a pivotal afternoon in the championship chase.
"It's crucial we don't lose as to catch up seven points would be a big ask," Sheerin told Herald Sport. "It's not crucial that we win but if we do then it would put a bit more pressure on them. But it's probably a bigger game for us than it is for them."
Sheerin, still playing and scoring regularly at the age of 37, has recruited sensibly, adding the experience of such as Chris Innes and Collin Samuel to his squad. Having long ago extinguished any fears of dropping back into the third division, he concedes that winning the title needs to be now recognised as a viable goal.
"It would be some achievement if the club were to win back to back titles after not winning one over all these years," he added. "But we didn't set out with winning the title in mind. When you're newly promoted you first have to look at putting together a squad that's capable of keeping you in the division. With the players we managed to keep from last year, and with a few more added to the group, I was confident we could do that. After that it was seeing whether we could make a push for the play-offs and we've been in among those places throughout the season. We've put ourselves in a position where we are now capable of winning the title. I wasn't sure of that at the start of the season."
Sheerin, however, is a realist. As ambitious as he and his directors are, there is little daydreaming about Gayfield hosting Premier League football in a year or two. "We're obviously restricted by our crowds and ground capacity and the like so I'm not saying we're going to keep flying up the divisions. I don't think Arbroath will ever be an SPL team. What we would love to do is take the club into the first division and that's certainly something within our reach. Then you'd be battling to stay up against full-time clubs but it's a challenge we'd like to take on."
Sheerin's playing career took in stops at Southampton, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Aberdeen and St Johnstone and he hopes his managerial career will one day reach similar highs. "As a player I was always keen to do well and I was fortunate enough to play at a massive club like Aberdeen. Playing in the SPL was a big thing for me and I'm no different as a manager. If possible, I want to get back to full-time management one day."
Source: FOOTYMAD
