THE end of the season with a victory at Villa Park gave me a lot of satisfaction.

Three games unbeaten and back-to-back away wins in the top flight bodes well for next season and we can look forward to next season in the Championship with confidence, regardless of losing key players like Kieran Trippier – as looks likely – and Danny Ings – as looks a certainty.

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The chequebook will have to come out, and the sooner the better, to get replacements. It won’t be easy but it is not impossible, and if the rest of the squad stays in tact I think we have a good chance to come straight back up.

We will need to go into the transfer market to replace a talented young man like Danny. He has been Burnley’s top scorer for the last two seasons and his 11 goals this season had the big clubs chasing after him.

He has been a credit to the club. But while goalscorers always get the headlines, I was really pleased that Sean Dyche said that all the players have approached the top flight in a manner which has pleased him and he insists it has been a team effort.

The entire squad can hold their heads up for they have given everything for the team in every game.

Congratulations are also sent out to goalkeeper Tom Heaton as he has been selected to the squad for the full England international team and it is very deserved.

The players’ player of the year has had a great season and earlier this year I said he had the potential to play for his country. Well he has got there now, so good luck Tom, you deserve it.

As one door opens, another one closes with Steven Reid retiring from professional football.

It is a hard decision to take, but I was lucky in that I got to fulfil by boyhood dream of playing in a winning team at Wembley before I hung up my boots, for Northern Ireland.

Steven was clearly very emotional at the end at Aston Villa. I had the same thoughts going through my head as the final whistle went. You say to yourself, “That’s it!”. There’s no going back.

He has had a very good career for club and country.

It is sad when you come to the end of your career because you meet so many different people and play against big name players, but the memories are priceless.

Although there is obviously disappointment at suffering relegation, there are some mouthwatering derbies to look forward to now that Preston have returned to the Championship, and of course the East Lancs duel, and I’m sure the players will be forward to locking horns again. The grounds will be jam packed and the atmosphere will be electric. Those games are something we can look forward to next season.