WANDERERS’ goal-scoring heroes celebrated on the pitch after a job well done against Peterborough United.

Jem Karacan, David Wheater and Adam Le Fondre scored the goals which guaranteed the Whites will be playing Championship football next season, bagging a £5million-plus bonus in sponsorship and TV money in the process.

Karacan had been waiting for his first start for the Whites until he played a starring role in last week’s win at Port Vale.

He got the ball rolling with the opening goal and says the experience ranked right up with anything else in his career.

“I’ve been desperate to get on – the fans haven’t seen much of me,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute of being here but to get a goal like that was just incredible.

“I came in and the team was on fire. I’m not going to be one of those hammering on the gaffer’s door. I waited, got a chance and to come into this winning team, I’ve loved every minute of it. This was just such a great feeling.”

David Wheater scored the second, his ninth goal of the campaign, and is hoping his consistent performances in the promotion campaign can convince the club to offer him a new deal this summer.

“It’s a brilliant feeling,” he said. “There’s not one bloke I wouldn’t go out for a beer with in this squad and that’s quite rare in football. The spirit here is something else.

“We’ve shown this season. We should have done it a few weeks ago but maybe it was better like this in front of our own families and fans.

“I’ve only had a one-year contract this year so I hope something can get sorted. I’ll be camping outside the chairman’s office from Wednesday, I think, my hangover should have gone by then.”

Adam Le Fondre rounded things off with the third, his sixth of the season, and admits he now has a big decision to make this summer as a free agent.

“I don’t suppose Cardiff are going to renew my contract – but obviously Bolton will be my first port of call,” he said. “I came here to score goals, I did that. We got promoted and that was the main thing.

“I have made no bones that if there is something there for me this summer I’ll sign it but it has to be right for both parties.

“It depends what happens now with the powers that be. I have reaped the rewards of coming back to Bolton. It has revitalised me.”

Promotion, however, has very much been a collective effort and some of the players who were unable to feature celebrated just as vociferously.

Lawrie Wilson, who sustained a serious hamstring injury in February, said watching the game from the stands was harder than being out on the pitch.

“It was terrible,” he said. “I’m a bag of nerves. If you’re playing then you get out there and it all disappears. When you’re watching you can’t do anything about it.

“I’m so glad I have played a part in this year at Bolton.”

Keeper Ben Alnwick damaged his knee in March, allowing Mark Howard to step back in and see the side to promotion. But the 30-year-old, who signed from Peterborough in the summer, took great pride in his performances.

“It doesn’t matter whether I was playing or not I was just so happy to see them get over the line,” he said. “It has been a collective this year, we’ve worked so hard.

“Lee Butler has done a great job with us keepers – the Big Friendly Giant – and I think between me and Mark we’ve had a good year.

“To play such a big part has been incredible.”

Club captain Darren Pratley hailed the players’ mental strength to bounce back after relegation.

“Going from being told we’re not fit to wear the shirt to scenes like this is amazing really, it’s incredible,” he said. “Credit to the lads because last season wasn’t easy for anyone. It was hard.

“This is good for Bolton. We have to enjoy these moments.”