Dagenham & Redbridge assistant manager Terry Harris believes the chance to play in League One is all the incentive his players need in Sunday’s League Two play-off final with Rotherham (Daggers 10/11 to be promoted).
The two sides go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday for the chance to rise into English football’s third tier, with Rotherham 4/5 to gain promotion.
Harris believes that 10 years ago it would have been impossible even to dream of playing against some of the sides who are currently in League One, and he feels it is testament to the way the club has developed that they have a chance of promotion this weekend.
“Playing in League One is a massive incentive and it is hard to believe,” he said.
“A decade ago we were mid-table in the Ryman League and next season we could be playing in the same division as Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Charlton.
“Back in those days there were 20-30 non-league clubs in the south east who were similar in size and support to ourselves.
“But we are the only ones who have gone on to establish ourselves as a Football League side and now we could even be a League One team.”
The Victoria Road outfit can expect around 13,000 fans to make the short trip to Wembley on Sunday and despite the fact that they finished seventh in the League Two standings this year, Harris does not feel they are underdogs going into the showpiece event.
Manager John Still looks set to name an unchanged side from the Morecambe win, providing midfielder Peter Gain can overcome a calf proble.
The northern outfit are the 7/5 favourites to win the match in 90 minutes, with the Daggers on offer at 9/5 and the draw priced at 12/5.
The Daggers’ Paul Benson is the 4/1 joint-favourite to be first goalscorer – along with the Millers’ Adam le Fondre, with Dagenham’s Josh Scott on offer at 6/1 and Rotherham’s Drewe Broughton and Ryan Taylor at 7/1.
Rotherham boss Moore feels victory at Wembley on Sunday will surpass all of his previous achievements in management.
“It will probably be the best of the promotions for me in the way that we have had to do it,” he said.
“Where we are, for the players to produce the togetherness they have, I think that would be the best of all the promotions we’ve had.”