Dobbie to hang around as the king of Queens
Stephen Dobbie admits he knocked back offers from the Premiership last season because he wants to make history for Queen of the South.
The veteran striker will look to add to his tournament- leading seven goals in the Betfred Cup when he faces St Johnstone on Saturday.
The 35-year-old scoffs at the idea he still belongs at a higher level despite his goal in yesterday’s 2-1 loss to Dundee United making it 61 strikes in 89 games at Queens.
He said: “That’s the reason I came back —to get Queens into the Premiership. This year is our centenary. Hopefully it’s a good omen.
“The last time we were in the top division was in the 1950s.
“I had a few offers from the Premiership last Christmas but as soon as I got the calls I said no straight away.
“I live in England so it’s easy for me to play for Queens and I’m happy there. Yes, there was more money but at this stage of my career it’s not about money. It’s about enjoying the football and giving something back to this club.”
Dobbie has been the class act in the second tier for the past two years. But he insisted: “I don’t feel a burden.
“I’m playing for a club I love and scoring goals for them is an honour.
“I won’t be playing for much longer so if I can help them get to the top division that’s the dream.
“We’ve been around the play-offs in the last couple of years and then always just fallen away with a bad run.
“As Livingston showed last season, if you get a decent run together you can get yourselves up. We have to take inspiration from them.
“They only came up the year before. Now they’re in the Premiership. If you get a group who really believe in what they can do then it can happen.”