Former Aberdeen defender Clark Robertson has dismissed critics of his club Rotherham United’s promotion from League One, insisting the Millers earned their place in the English Championship.
United have bounced back at the first time of asking as League One runners-up behind Coventry City after the early end to the season.
Robertson said: “Some people have said we’ve won the lottery as we were second but only three points off eighth place. We don’t see it that way as we’ve been in the top two since January and have been pretty consistent all year to stay there. We deserve it.
“Since being relegated last season, the goal for the manager and squad was to win promotion at the first attempt and we’ve done it.
“Who knows what would have happened if the season had been played to a finish, but I believe it would have been enough and the table doesn’t lie.
“We had a few beers among ourselves with the manager and the staff on Zoom last Tuesday which was nice, but we would much rather have been celebrating on the pitch with our fans.”
The 26-year-old has little time to reflect as he and his team-mates prepare to return to pre-season training at the end of the month.
Consolidation will be the immediate aim, but he still hopes to reach the Premier League while in England.
Robertson said: “I’ve won promotion from League Two and League One, so it would be great to tick off promotion from the Championship too.
“The plan for us is to return at the end of the month and start pre-season training with the aim of the new season starting either on August 29 or early September, but at this stage no one really knows for sure.”
The new campaign will be unlike any other, as games are played without supporters.
Robertson said the empty stadiums will be “strange”, but thinks that, with bigger clubs facing the same conditions, it could be “a leveller”.
“Every player wants to play in front of full houses so it will feel weird playing in front of no one, but hopefully it’s not for long,” he added.
“We’re a few months away from starting so maybe there will be some fans allowed back in to watch in the not too distant future.”