"It's about time people were envious of us. It's been a long time coming," reflected Gartside. "Qualifying for the group stages of the UEFA Cup is a reward for the 2,000 people who followed us to Bulgaria, the 25,000 who will be at our next home game and all the people who work at the club.
"When I look back five, six, seven years ago, I would have said it would be impossible for us to be playing in the UEFA Cup. But I know what work has been done and how we've got there, so there's no surprise in that sense.
"We've clearly come a long way in a short time. It's been about attention to detail and tight budgets, and it has had to be tight because we are trying to run a business and balance the books as everybody knows.
"At the moment we're third in the league, and deservedly so, and now we're in the group stages of the UEFA Cup, so who knows how far we can go.
"We came close to the Champions League last season, so that would be nice, and I know I shouldn't say it, but we'd like a domestic trophy.
"That would be important to us. A bit of silverware in the cabinet for the first time in a long, long time. That's what we are after."