Last updated 10:10, Wednesday, 23 April 2008

CONSIDERING their club’s main target this season was simply to avoid relegation, Queen of the South fans must be rubbing their eyes in disbelief at their team’s heroics this season.

They’ve reached the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers at Hampden Park and in doing so have definitely bagged a place in Europe.

Nearly 20,000 Queens fans are planning to descend on Hampden next month, and the unsung Dumfries club is preparing for a bumper windfall from ticket sales and TV rights.

Queens are a lovely, homely club and they thoroughly deserve their place in the sun.

They took a gamble this season by going full-time and their bold decision is really paying off, both financially and in terms of their progress on the pitch.

Chairman David Rae and his directors deserve real credit for making some big decisions in the boardroom and for really throwing their weight behind manager Gordon Chisholm.

Chisholm is making a name for himself as one of Scotland’s brightest young managers and a highly-talented coach.

He’s made some excellent signings like hugely talented Gretna midfielder Steve Tosh, who was bewilderingly shown the door by Queens’ neighbours less than 18 months ago.

Other players, like ex-Gretna captain Andy Aitken, have also been rejuvenated and are enjoying the greatest moment in their careers.

Queen of the South have always been considered an unfashionable club from a sleepy backwater which was going nowhere.

But they’ve added a real touch of magic to the Scottish Cup this season, and it would be great if they could keep the momentum going.

Unlike Gretna, who have now unravelled before our eyes, Queens are thriving because of sound financial commonsense and a determination to live within their means.

They have a smashing little stadium, a fan base and minimal debt – not to mention a team of winners on the pitch.

The way Rangers are making hard work of everything at the moment, you wouldn’t rule out an upset.