Fleetwood Town old boy backs Highbury squad to win League One play-offs

The former midfielder, now manager at Bamber Bridge in the Northern Premier League, spent almost a decade at Fleetwood, many of them as captain.

Milligan initially joined the club in 2004, having played for Everton and hometown club Blackpool, and was involved in six promotion-winning Fleetwood teams.

They achieved a seventh without him six years ago to reach League One and now stand three games away from number eight a fortnight today.

Milligan, 40, told The Gazette: “I always look out for Blackpool’s results too but Fleetwood has special memories for me.

“They were good times and it would be an unbelievable achievement for them to reach the Championship.

“I don’t see why they can’t win the play-offs. They have two winnable games in the semi-finals against Wycombe, then the final is a one-off.

“They were on a really good run when the season was suspended, they have good management and coaching, and a brilliant squad.

“That run doesn’t really count after all this time but it shows the potential Fleetwood have. And if they play to that potential I think they will beat Wycombe.

“I think the other semi will be tough to call but I can see it being a Fleetwood-Portsmouth final. And why shouldn’t Fleetwood win it? They have a really good squad.

“They will have a lot of backing because everyone loves an underdog story.

“It’s a small fanbase but the locals really get behind their team and drive them on.”

And Milligan, who played for the club in League Two in his final season at Highbury, sees no reason why the rise and rise of Fleetwood Town should end here.

“I think Fleetwood could sustain a Championship club,” he adds.

“A lot of the players have played higher than League One and underdogs have done it before, so why not?

“Joey Barton (head coach) was a controversial choice but he has done brilliantly and will manage at a higher level.

“I remember him joining us for pre-season in Scotland one summer.

“He’s somebody everyone has an opinion about but if you get to know him he’s a top bloke.

The two lads up top are very effective (Ched Evans and Paddy Madden) and they could make the difference, but it’s a really strong squad right through.”

But whatever glory this squad continues to achieve, Milligan asks supporters to spare a thought for the players who made it all possible.

He said: “You look at the players they have now and the brilliant facilities at Poolfoot Farm, but they might not have all that if the players back in the day hadn’t done what we did in climbing through the leagues.

“But the main thing is they have a chairman in Andy Pilley who has put everything into the club and is football-mad, and I’d love them to get into the Championship.”