"I have worked abroad, but the great thing about British football is Preston gave 110 per cent against us. It was a close run affair there was no favours given tonight.

"And we got the breakthrough. I felt we had three or four players who allowed the occasion to get to them and I didn't think that would happen to us.

"All season we have had big games and when we have been asking the players for a little bit more, they have produced it but I just felt tonight we didn't play anything like we have been playing.

"I just feel that maybe just the occasion got to a few players and we were a wee bit nervous which I didn't believe would happen.

"You have to give credit to Preston they pushed and pushed and pushed and we enjoyed a wee bit of luck at the end when they hit the post."

"I have been lucky and won a great deal as a player and manager and every time you achieve something it's a wonderful feeling and that is maybe that is why we still do it.

"Lots of people would say maybe I shouldn't be in this business but for nights like this, that is why you are in it.

"You get a tremendous feeling of fulfilment, achievement and you are sharng it, you are in a team game even though I am the manager and it is a feeling that is wonderful.

" I am very lucky to have experienced it on a number of occasions.

THE SEASON AS A WHOLE

"I feel that looking back we started okay then we tailed off. Managers talk on occasions like this about the great team spirit in the club.

"It is very easy to talk about team spirit and what a great player he is and what a good professional and in my experience you really find what people are made of when your backs are against the wall.

"In that period, I saw things which encouraged me greatly. I still thought the worse scenario for us this year would be the play-offs.

"And that is not me saying it now, wise after the event but at that time when we were struggling a bit -- and that happens to everybody during the season except Fulham -- but I felt the worst scenario would be the play-offs."

MEDICATION

"I'm really enjoying the moment. I might not look it but inside I am. Medication works when you are under pressure and keeps you cool when you are enjoying yourself."

RUN-IN

"It would have been a great feeling of disappointment getting to the play-offs.

"I actually said to the Chief Executive between ourselves a few months ago that I thought we would go up easily.

"No way did I think Bolton would keep going the way they kept going and they deserve great deal of credit for that.

"I think Big Sam will be as sick as a proverbial tonight but they have pushed us and pushed us.

"No way did I think they would win at Wolverhampton or Barnsley even before that I thought we would open the gap which would be a comfortable end of season for us but that wasn't the case."

"Craig Short I think that is the first time he has actually won promotion so I am pleased for him because he is a thing you build houses on.

FIRST DIVISION

"Blackburn Rovers in the First Division and because of one man, we were the biggest game for everybody this season, we were their cup final for everybody we played.

"I have worked at some big clubs Galatasaray, Benfica, Glasgow Rangers and Liverpool, it was the same. You don't have any easy games, everyone is up to play against you.

"You can't pick and choose when you are going to give 100 per cent so my players deserve a great deal of credit for that.

"They were the ones that some people tagged the 'Fat Cats' and maybe that might have been deserved for last year but I can only talk for this year and there is no way I would accuse any one of them of being less than professional.

"You are not going to play well everyday, you can't turn up at training and give 110 per cent every day but over the piece I couldn't be critical of my players in any shape or form in terms of what they wanted to give for the club.

"We were everybodies cup final so for us to get out it is quite an achievement.

JACK WALKER

"He was a wise old man. He knew it was never going to be easy but he must be happy tonight. I just wish I could share the expensive bottle of bordeaux he is drinking tonight.

This report comes courtesy of our sister newspaper the Lancashire Evening Telegraph