David Jeffrey says Europa League playoff is all about the money
Ballymena and Glenavon will meet tonight in the Europa League playoff final - a match worth around £200,000 for the winner.
Victory ensures a place in the first round of qualifying, but the financial incentives are the primary motivating factor for Sky Blues manager David Jeffrey.
"We've actually treated this more like a league game. The League Cup final was a big occasion, on a Saturday with the pre-match meal and all those things. But this is a bit more straightforward, just win the game of football, and we're playing for a big pot of money."
In his first full season in charge, Jeffrey guided the club to a 4th place finish after years of failure to break into the top 6.
"If anyone had said at the start of the season that we would win a major trophy for the first time in 28 years, and secure a highest league finish since 1981 - this is beyond anything we could have ever envisioned."
"It was about making sure we weren't caught in a relegation battle, and although we didn't put a timeline on this, to have done it all already is just class."
However, Ballymena have struggled this season in previous meetings with Glenavon. Despite the fact his side will have the home advantage, Jeffrey believes the visitors are the favourites.
"We had them here at the start of the season and were winning 3-0, and they came back to draw 3-each. Then we went down there and we got biffed 5-0. And probably the most disappointing was the first game after the split. We were hopeless that day."
Ballymena and Glenavon will kick off at 19.45pm at the Showgrounds.