Monaghan United manager Roddy Collins has promised to keep faith with the players that have won the club promotion the Airtricity Premier Division.
Collins led Monaghan to the top-flight for the first time in 11 years as they beat Galway United in the promotion/relegation play-off last night.
The Monaghan squad are now out of contract and there are a number of new players available on the market, but Collins will reward the current panel for their achievement.
He told RTÉ Radio 1: “The bunch of lads I took to Monaghan deserve a place in the Premier Division. I believe there is a starting XI there to hold their own in certain games.
“I told the lads before kick-off that everybody that is fit will be offered a contract for next season because they deserve it. I will bring some in and when the window opens we will see the level that they can step up to and you have given them a fair go of it.”
Collins has described bringing the unfashionable United to the Premier Division as a “little fairytale” and hailed the feat of pipping big clubs like Limerick and Waterford to third position in the First Division.
“It is great for the club. It was 11 years out of the Premier Division. It was a great atmosphere in Terryland Park, a good crowd came down to support us and for such a small little club to get so many people, it was brilliant. It was like a little fairytale really.
“When you look at the company of Waterford, Limerick, Shelbourne and Cork, to be up there amongst them, you would never believe it. We got a bit of luck along the way.
“We do have a great work ethic and great genuine bunch of people running the club. They are very honest people.
“Getting into the Premier Division is absolutely brilliant. Staying in it will be a massive challenge. That is the challenge for next season.”
