Peterhead chairman Rodger Morrison hopes Jim McInally sticks with the Blue Toon after their promotion to League 1.
McInally, Scotland’s longest-serving manager having taken over at Balmoor in 2011, guided Peterhead to their second League 2 title in five years with a 2-0 win over Queen’s Park on Saturday.
However, the former Dundee United midfielder is unsure what the future holds and Morrison fears he may have already made up his mind to look for pastures new.
Morrison persuaded McInally to stay on last year after the play-off disappointment, in which McInally offered his resignation after the two-legged loss to Stenhousemuir. Similar words of encouragement may be needed again this year.
Morrison said: “We always had faith in Jim.To be fair to him, he felt he’d let us down last season. But he’s proved more than capable this season.
“I just hope he’s willing to move forward next season and stay. I think he’ll need a bit of persuasion one way or another. I think he’s maybe already made up his mind but I hope he hasn’t.
“I’m hoping he stands by the club and we can move forward again.”
Morrison reckons the Blue Toon are more than capable of challenging for the play-off places upon their return to Scotland’s third-tier.
He added: “I think we belong in League 1, that’s my opinion. We shall see next season.
“We’ve competed there for a number of years and we’re certainly not there to make up the numbers. I would be hoping for the play-offs – no pressure on Jim.”