COLIN Todd looked back on last season's relegation today as he toasted his team's record-breaking title success.

John McGinlay and Co became the highest scoring team in Wanderers history when they closed the door on 102 years of football at Burnden Park with their 4-1 victory over Charlton.

They are heading back to the Premiership as runaway Champions of the Nationwide League and could crown a remarkably successful season in their final fixture at Tranmere by achieving the unique double of 100 points and 100 League goals.

It is a far cry from a year ago when they finished bottom of the Premier League but Todd put the transformation into perspective when he said: "You can't always go forward in life.

"Sometimes you've got to go backwards to go forward. That's how I view the time since I took sole charge of the team."

With the club heading for a Stock Market listing on Tuesday and the new Reebok Stadium in August, Todd believes he is taking Wanderers back to the top flight in far better shape than when they were promoted via the play-offs in 1995.

McGinlay's two late strikes crowned a final, bitter-sweet Burnden night, taking his season's total to 29 and put Wanderers on 98 goals and 97 points. But his efforts have cost him a place in the Scotland squad for next Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Sweden.

The 33-year-old Scot, who has secured a place among the Wanderers' legends, admitted today that he was struggling for much of the second half.

A doubt until shortly before kick off after missing two games with a thigh strain, McGinlay revealed: "My leg went after 49 minutes. I was struggling but I didn't want to come off. Now I'm afraid I'll have to give Craig Brown a call and tell him I'm out of his squad."

Todd thanked his entire squad for their Championship-winning performances before last night's game then spoke publicly of his personal pride when he said: "This has been a very proud achievement for me.

"Supporters have high expectations but I don't think any of them really expected us to be Champions. That's down to the consistency of losing just four games out of the 45 we've played.

"It's not worth talking about the Premiership yet. We should just savour the 45 games we've played so far and look forward to the last one."

The manager also praised his players for producing an outstanding second half display after finding the going tough in the first 45 minutes against Charlton.

"They made it difficult for us," he conceded, "but we know how to win games and we knew how to win this one."

Memories of Burnden Park will be revived again tonight when GMR Talk broadcasts a 45-minute documentary "Pictures From The Park" at 5.45pm. The screen version will be shown on BBC-2 tomorrow at 6.40.

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