For no one has Bradford City's promotion to the Premiership been a more satisfying achievement than Paul Jewell's right hand man, Chris Hutchings.

City's assistant manager is such a likeable man that he would not say anything wrong publicly about anyone.

But he is known to have been deeply upset at the way he felt he was demoted by Chris Kamara when the then manager decided to re-shuffle his backroom staff after City gained promotion in the Second Division play-off final at Wembley three years ago.

The former Chelsea, Brighton, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United player and coach was brought to the club by Kamara when his assistant Gary Megson left to become manager at Norwich after just three weeks at Valley Parade. And he played a key role in City's path to the play-offs in the second half of the 1995-6 season.

But after their Wembley triumph against Notts County he was taken away from the first team scene and appointed youth development officer.

As Hutchings savoured City's rise to the Premiership in the dressing room after their 3-2 win at Wolves, he said: "It's been quite a turnaround from 1996. Things changed for me under Chris Kamara after Wembley - things I wasn't particularly happy about - but it has all turned full circle."

When Jewell became manager after Kamara's sacking in January 1998 all the talk was of a so-called big name assistant, and former Liverpool player Jan Molby was set to take over before giving backword the following day.

However, Hutchings said: "When Paul first took over he said he would like me to help him out.

"Big names were bandied about, but at the end of the day he got the man he wanted. We seem to work well together and this has paid dividends."

Hutchings' friendly personality is good for morale among the players and he also acted as a confidant and adviser for Jewell.

He said: "When we were beaten 3-0 at Ipswich in early September Paul was very low. But I said to him that I knew that, with the players we had at the club, in time things would turn around. The results since then have been a credit to the players who have worked extremely hard.

"We try to make the training enjoyable and that goes a long way if people can enjoy their work.

"For our part, we have enjoyed working with the players and the players have enjoyed working with us. It has been a long hard road, but we have got our just desserts.

"I am delighted for the players. The supporters have been fantastic and the chairman has backed us to the hilt.

"Paul and I are obviously delighted at the opportunity we have been given. Everyone has been behind us in what we have been trying to do and pulling in the same direction.

"The reason for our success is hard work coupled with the quality of the players."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.