LEICESTER manager Stewart Dickson has stressed the bigger picture of the club’s success following Thursday’s agonising play-off defeat to Sheffield.
The Watling JCB Lions were just a point away from completing the greatest comeback in Premiership history as they missed out in a Super Heat after recovering from a 24-point first leg deficit to draw the semi-final on aggregate.
It comes at the end of a campaign where the Lions have once again put major silverware on the table with a second successive KO Cup triumph, whilst in the regular league standings they finished second behind runaway leaders Belle Vue.
Dickson said: “If somebody offered you a heat advantage in Heat 15 to reach the Final after the first leg the way we raced there, you’d have grabbed it with both hands.
“When you get so close and don’t get it over the line you set yourself up for a bigger disappointment – but I believe this shows how far we’ve come as a club now.
“We’re gutted we didn’t reach the Final again, but we’re probably the most consistent team in the Premiership over the last three or four years.
“I know one or two fingers got pointed about performances a week ago, but to a man everyone stepped up on Thursday and we couldn’t ask for any more. We just gave ourselves a little bit too much to do.
“But the noise in the arena was fantastic, the supporters were fantastic and we’re on the journey together and I’m pretty sure we will be challenging again next year.
“This is where we are now. We’ve raised the bar and we’re setting standards. Leicester will be challenging in semi-finals and finals as long as I’m here, I can guarantee that.”
Whilst the senior campaign is now over, the Lion Cubs still have two home matches remaining.
They face King’s Lynn at the Hydroscand Arena on Sunday October 11 (5pm), before the visit of champions Edinburgh concludes the season on Saturday October 17 (7pm).
