Paul Jewell was today celebrating the greatest achievement of a modern Bradford City manager by leading the club to the Premiership.

And, the man many supporters were dismayed to see given a two year contract by the club 12 months ago had no hesitation in describing City's promotion as the pinnacle of his career.

The 34-year-old likeable Liverpudlian who joined the club as a player 11 years ago achieved what his predecessors failed to do when City secured the second automatic promotion place by beating Wolves 3-2 at Molineux yesterday.

It is a wonderful achievement by one the youngest managers of the league in his full season, but it was typical of his modesty that he choose to praise the efforts of others in taking City back to the top flight for the first time for 77 years.

He said: "It's fantastic - we deserved it. People have worked ever so hard and I am delighted to be able to do it. It is the pinnacle of my career.

"A lot of hard work has been put in by a lot of people. My assistant Chris Hutchings, the staff and the players - we are a good team."

Jewell has spent more money - £4,300,000 - than any other manager in the club's history, including three £1 million players, never being afraid to back his judgement.

But, everyone agrees he has spent the money wisely and handled his players well, fostering the all-important team spirit which has played such a big part in City's success.

Striker Lee Mills, leading scorer with 25 league and cup goals became City's first £1 million player he joined them from Port Vale the day before the season began.

That record was broken the following week when Jewell paid Arsenal £1.3 million for striker Isaiah Rankin and, then, two months ago he signed Oxford striker Dean Windass for £950,000 with a further £50,000 to be paid if City gained promotion.

Midfield player Gareth Whalley arrived from Crewe for £600,000, full back Lee Todd from Southampton for £250,000 and Jewell also brought midfield player Stuart McCall back to Valley Parade from Rangers and right back Stephen Wright from Rangers under the Bosman ruling.

Despite this influx of new players, City made a bad start, taking only five points from their first seven matches, but as Jewell proudly points out City have been remarkably consistent since then losing only seven of their last 39 matches.

He said: "At the start of the season no one gave us any chance, but after that poor start the players have been brilliant.

"We signed some good players, but it takes time for them to gel. I always felt they would. If you sign quality players and work hard you have got a chance.

"I have also had the backing of the chairman Geoffrey Richmond and when there were sticky times he stood by me. We deserve to go up."

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