QUEEN OF THE SOUTH manager Gordon Chisholm insists the Doonhamers will deserve their place in next season's UEFA Cup after their Scottish Cup exploits.
Chisholm's side are building towards Saturday's domestic final at Hampden where they will face Rangers.
But, with Rangers already assured of their place in the Champions League or its qualifying stages, Queens will take the Scottish Cup's allocate
d pass to Europe even if they lose to Walter Smith's side.
The Irn-Bru First Division outfit beat Aberdeen in their semi-final, and Chisholm said: "We're there on merit and if I hear anyone else say for the good of Scottish football we shouldn't be there this week, I'll be an angry man."
The fourth-placed side in the Scottish Premier League could take their place in the UEFA Cup in future seasons, at the expense of teams qualifying as the Cup runners-up. But under the current rules it will be Queens – win or lose on Saturday – who join third-placed SPL team Motherwell in the competition next term.
Chisholm added: "I'm not saying that Hibs or Dundee United might not go further than us in the UEFA Cup, but we're there through merit, not luck."
Chisholm led Queens to a fourth-place finish in the First Division and insists the Dumfries club can aim even higher. They have sold out their ticket allocation for the final, and Chisholm said: "Queens could be an SPL club and you will see the backing we can command on Saturday."
Queens have been preparing for the game with friendlies and a closed-doors match against Hearts.
The full article contains 273 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
