Burgess hoping to stay beside the seaside and play in the top flight

The former Hull City striker was still in celebratory mode as he set about planning for the coming campaign against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Although his contract with the club runs out this summer, he is hoping to stay on and play in the top flight.

Blackpool, whose average home crowd of 8,611 was the second-lowest in the Championship this season, will be the smallest club in the top flight since the formation of the Premier League and will probably be tipped by most pundits to finish bottom.

Yet Holloway is expected to be handed funds to sign new players and Burgess says his manager should not be underestimated.

"Every team that goes up finds it hard but we've got a manager who is very clever," said Burgess. "Everyone thinks he's just a madman, and he can be at times, but I'm sure he'll know what to do in the Premier League.

"The Premier League has not seen anything like him but I'm sure they'll enjoy it.

"I think he's used that year out of football very well and he's proved a lot of people wrong.

"We're not massively different to last season in terms of personnel but the 4-3-3 formation he's played is the right way and he's brought in the right players. He's just a very clever guy. In our first meeting with him I thought 'wow'. He's got us so well-drilled and whoever starts the game knows where he should be at every minute.

"Everyone knows their job and that showed against Cardiff.

"As long as you're well organised, you've got a chance in any league.

"The gaffer isn't stupid and he'll be planning for next season. We've got so much faith in him and you've got to have after what he has achieved this season. We were second favourites to go down at the start of this season but just look at us now. My contract is up at the end of the season but hopefully I'll be there."

Former Leeds United striker Brett Ormerod could scarcely digest the magnitude of the club's achievement.

The 33-year-old, in his second spell at Bloomfield Road, scored the most important goal of his career – the winner.

He said: "If you start thinking about the money involved you lose focus on what you're doing.

"The manager kept us focused on the game itself. He has come in this season and changed the whole mindset of the club in general, not just the players.

"He said mere survival in the Championship was not what he wanted – he wanted more."