Hardie set for Premier stake

May 5 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Hardie set for Premier stake

TWO years ago, a groggy Martin Hardie woke up to see his crumpled face all over the morning papers, tears flooding down his face.

It was an enduring image which encapsulated the pain inflicted on McDiarmid Park as imposters from Gretna wrenched away the title.

So Hardie, more than most, was going to party hard on Saturday night after an injury-plagued campaign.

“Losing out to Gretna was hard for me to take, especially as I’d lost a close friend from school around the same time.

“I came here more than three years ago under Owen Coyle and thought I’d be playing in the SPL. Now we are league champions and next season I will be up there again.

“We always wanted to win the title here at home. There was a blip against Queen of the South but players stood up to be counted against Dundee and Morton. There is real character in the dressing room.

“Derek McInnes has built his own squad, with a few additions to what Owen Coyle left, and now we are champions.

“Alan Main is the best keeper I’ve ever played with. He might be 42 but he has been fantastic all season. We just need a bit more experience and that’s up to the gaffer. It’s going to be a brilliant season for us.”