Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney has hailed their current crop of players as the greatest team in the club’s history after the dramatic 3-0 playoff final win over Forfar last weekend.

Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney has hailed their current crop of players as the greatest team in the club’s history after the dramatic 3-0 playoff final win over Forfar last weekend.

The Wasps battled back from a 3-1 first leg deficit to cement their place in next season’s SPFL Championship. And it is the first time in the club’s history that they have played in the second tier of Scottish football for three consecutive seasons.

The club’s owner was beaming with pride after the match, but felt that Michael Chopra’s goal on the stroke of half time was the key to their monumental comeback.

Mulraney told Advertiser sport: “It was a terrific comeback from a terrific bunch of boys. I think it is a really proud day for myself, the board, the players and the management, but most importantly for the town.

“It was just a wonderful day and it truly cemented this team’s place as the best Alloa team there has ever been.

“We have never been in the second tier of Scottish football this long, we got to a cup final as well and have really put the town on the map this season with some unbelievable moments. Personally, I could not be any prouder of the way we have achieved it. I am proud of my town and I hope they are proud of us. We trailed 3-1 and lesser teams would have crumbled, but this team do not know when they’re beaten and have an incredible spirit.

“I knew if got one in the first half then it gives us a real chance. We took a gamble in signing a wonderful player in Chopra and he was the one to get that goal for us.

“That was the key moment for us and he has been such a great influence on the team since he has been here.” Mulraney expects another huge windfall for the economy in the Wee County as the club could potentially welcome the likes of St Mirren, Motherwell, Hibernian, Greenock Morton and maybe even Glasgow Rangers to the Indodrill Stadium in the Championship next season.

He said: “Our club is set up so that we can adapt no matter what division we play in, but being in this league in terms of the financial differences for the club is absolutely massive. More so for the town itself the economic impact of us being in this league for local business is unmatched and a massive boost.

“This is where I want the club to be, where I believe the club should be and the longer we continue to punch above our weight then the harder it will be for other teams to catch us up.

“You could see that by the way we were able to see off a wonderful Forfar team. No matter who we play next year it will be another exciting league so it is great for the town, great for the club.” The Wee County native admits he has been lucky to have had a number of top class managers to lead the club during his tenure as chairman of the board and he hopes that Danny Lennon can now build on this latest success as they now look to the new season with excitement.

Mulraney added: “Danny has done a wonderful job already in such a short space of time here hopefully now he has a chance to put his own stamp on this excellent team that Barry Smith had built up here.

“We have been lucky to have been blessed with wonderful managers at this football club in my time as chairman. Right from Alan Maitland then through Paul [Hartley], Barry and now Danny, I have been truly blessed with talented and successful managers. Long may that continue.”