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EIGHTEEN days earlier, the chance looked to have gone.
Stephen Aitken looked as if he would be spending another season managing in League One. Managing in the Championship, despite his team’s heroics, was just a pipe dream.
For the second season in a row, he’d managed Stranraer to the promotion play-offs on a shoestring budget. Over those two campaigns they were on the brink of mixing it with the likes of Rangers (for a second time), Hearts, Hibernian and St Mirren.
But on both occasions, it came to nothing. Dunfermline ended their challenge at the semi-final stage first time around.
Then on Saturday, May 9, 2015, Stranraer were done in again, this time by Forfar Athletic. For Stephen, it was time to start thinking about giving it a third go.
Until today.
Stair Park may not be hosting Championship football for another year. But the man who came close to making it happen will be part of Scotland’s second tier.
In suits and newly-acquired club ties, he and assistant Stevie Farrell are addressing the media. Not in Wigtownshire, but rather closer to the manager’s hometown of Erskine.
Dumbarton have thrown Stephen a lifeline; a chance which it looked as though he’d missed out on when the final whistle of Stranraer’s season blew.
Everything would have to be right for him to take on another challenge. And with Sons, all the boxes were ticked.
He’s in charge at the Rock – and his fond memories of playing there have translated into a new opportunity for him as a manager.
Stephen told The Dumbarton Terrace: “It was a move that excited me and after the call came through, following careful consideration and talks with the relevant people, it was the right one for Stephen Aitken.
“There’s been a lot of speculation over the last year when Stranraer have been successful, and that’s something you can’t influence.
“It’s nice to be linked with clubs but Dumbarton showed real interest and I’m grateful that they did. I’ve had good conversations with them over the last few days and we’re all singing from the same song sheet; all pushing in the same direction.
“I’d have loved to have won promotion with Stranraer last season and it was very difficult to leave the club. I need to commend the directors there for their support.
“I was in the middle of building a squad there that was going to be good enough to challenge for the league title next season.
“I had a great two and a half years as manager there – great results and a great journey. But it always comes to an end and that’s behind us now.
“It’s been a while since the boots were on, but I used to enjoy coming to Dumbarton as a player. The park was always in great condition.
“It was always a club that made you feel welcome and for me to give up Stranraer, that side had to be right.”
So welcome to the job, Stephen. Now you’ve got to build a squad almost from scratch.
Three players from last season have verbally agreed but have yet to put pen to paper. They are Andy Graham, Jamie Ewings…and a player Stephen knows well.
Scott Agnew was Third Division player of the year in 2011 with Stranraer, where Sons’ new gaffer was assistant to Keith Knox at the time.
Speculation will rumble on about any players Stephen wishes to bring with him from Stair Park, or elsewhere. But for now, his priority lies with those already at the Rock.
He continued: “We will take our time to get guys in. We will assess the situation and think it over.
“It’s important to speak to the existing players here, because they’ve been in limbo for a while. As well as those, there are players we already know about and if we feel there is something they can add, we will look into it.
“Scott is a player I know well and from what I have heard from everyone, he is a lynchpin for Dumbarton.
“Every manager who has faced him has had the same opinion, so I will speak to him tonight along with the rest of the players.
“I’ve heard a lot about the squad but I need to speak to them face to face and hear their thoughts. There are a lot of good players and it’s important to get them tied up as quickly as possible.”
Although there may be room for some of last season’s players at Dumbarton this time around, there isn’t space for one thing.
The fear factor. Anyone not relishing the prospect of facing Hibernian and St Mirren, plus either Rangers or Motherwell, isn’t likely to get very far.
After all, Stephen was one of three managers to take points off Rangers in League One in season 2013/14, as Stranraer drew 1-1 at Ibrox on Boxing Day.
He has a brand of football in mind that he wants to implement – taking on all comers and letting them know they’re in a game.
Stephen said: “It’s probably the strongest league in Scotland, so firstly what I have to do is get a squad that we think can compete at this level.
“We know how tough it’s going to be and I’m not going to sit here and say we’re going to finish first, second, third or wherever. We’re looking to keep our status in the division.
“Our whole style is that we’re not fazed by anything and we will install that in the players as well. We’re not scared of big challenges.
“As well as drawing at Ibrox, we also did very well at Easter Road (Stranraer eventually lost 5-3 in a League Cup tie) and they’re challenges we’re looking forward to.
“In an ideal world, everyone would like to go all-out attack, but you need to make sure the back door is closed as well.
“In the last two seasons, I think Stranraer were among the top scorers in League One and had one of the best defensive records.
“We look to play high-intensity football, and when we lose possession, win it back as quickly as possible. If we can do that I’m sure the supporters will be happy.”
Stephen is also coming to a club that he’s beaten as Stranraer manager twice in the last two seasons. They beat Sons 4-2 in the Challenge Cup first round in 2013, and 3-2 in the same competition and round a year later.
Some might say there is nothing surer than a third meeting of the sides at some stage this season – so how does he feel about the prospect?
He added: “If I had a spare bit of cash, I’d say that Dumbarton will play Stranraer at some stage of this coming season.
“I had some great times there, as a player and especially as a manager with what we achieved there on a limited budget. We were the best part-time team in that division two seasons in a row.
“They’re all great memories but I need to focus on the job in hand now and if we do end up playing them, I’ll take it as it comes.”
Check back to The Dumbarton Terrace later to see what new assistant manager Stevie Farrell had to say at today’s press conference.
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