KEVIN Haynes has challenged his Dunbar United players to go out and add to their medal collections.
The Seasiders are well on course for an immediate return to the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL), having suffered last-day heartache and relegation last term.
Thirteen points clear of nearest challengers Newtongrange Star, who they comfortably defeated on Saturday, means they are firmly in the driving seat for promotion.
The manager said: “I have said all along that my priority, or the club’s priority, is promotion.
“The quicker we get to that the better.
“We want to make the season as short as possible and if we can achieve promotion in the next four games then it would be a 24-game season rather than 30.
“Promotion is the minimum – winning the league is up to the players.
“The goals we set out at the start of the season would be achieved but if the players want a medal that is up to them.”
A Johnny Edmond double and a strike from recent signing Sean Stewart helped Dunbar to a 3-0 win over their Midlothian rivals on Saturday.
The victory maintained their stunning form at home. Haynes’ side have taken 33 points from a possible 33, scoring 26 goals and conceding just three.
The manager (pictured inset) was quick to downplay the importance of the latest victory and predicted it would not be Newtongrange who were pushing them at the top of the table over the coming weeks.
He said: “It was just another game, which just so happened to be against the team closest to us at the moment.
“I don’t think Newtongrange will stay the team closest to us.
“I think Luncarty and Glenrothes are realistically competitors to us now.
“We have still got both of them to play and I don’t think it will be the first time that it is first versus second.
“It is a good result and a good performance but at this stage it is just another game. There are 10 games to go, with plenty of hurdles potentially.
“We have still got four of the top six to play so it is just three points really.”
Next up is a trip away from home as Dunbar travel to face a Kirkcaldy and Dysart side sitting eighth in the table.
Haynes, who previously played for Dunbar, said: “Complacency could be an issue and I don’t think we trained particularly well last week.
“We spoke about complacency on Saturday and it is something that I trust the boys will not fall into. We have discussed it now and will not discuss it again.”
The manager also praised the work that has gone on off the field.
A new stand and improvements to the ground have allowed the club to enter the Scottish Cup, where they knocked out Highland League side Clachnacuddin.
Haynes said: “Everybody seems to think that we have got millions of pounds to spend. They come to the ground, we’ve got a lovely pitch and stand, and everybody lifts their game 10 per cent against us.
“The truth is, if other committees worked as hard as my committee, potentially they would have money to spend as well.
“It puts a target on our back for all those factors, which we need to deal with, and we have done the majority of the time.”
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