Promotion heroes could be received by mayor of Blackpool

The Seasiders were promoted to League One following a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Exeter City at Wembley yesterday.

The club is now the most successful in English play-off history, with five promotions to their name from eight campaigns.

Council staff will speak to club bosses and the mayor, Ian Coleman, once they return to work following today's bank holiday, The Gazette understands.

Unlike previous triumphs in front of a sea of supports in tangerine, yesterday's League Two play-off final saw fewer than 6,000 Blackpool fans in a crowd of 23,380, as thousands stayed away as part of an ongoing boycott in protest against the club's owners.

Former Carlisle United youth player Brad Potts, who scored the opening goal and lifted the trophy just a year after tasting the bitterness of relegation to English football's fourth tier, said: "It was unbelievable, the best moment in my career by an absolute mile.

"Obviously after getting relegated last season we knew this season we had to bounce back. To finally do it is just an amazing feeling."

Manager Gary Bowyer added: "We got a fantastic start and we showed a lot of guts and determination against a very good Exeter team.

"I can't stress how proud I am of these players because a lot of them are on one leg. It was unbelievable the effort that they showed."