PROUD Accrington Stanley captain Seamus Conneely says he never doubted their ability to win promotion this season.

The midfielder admitted it was a lot of pressure to put on themselves from the off, after manager John Coleman set reaching League One as the target in pre-season.

But, despite bearing the scars of a near miss in 2016, Conneely always believed they could get over the line.

“I was never afraid to say in interviews our goal is to get promoted,” said the 29-year-old.

“The gaffer said it the first day we were back in (pre-season) training. We had a talk, before we started any running or kicked a ball, he said the goal is to get promoted, and I think it rubbed off on a few lads straight away and as the season went on it gradually picked up pace and it was like a snowball effect.

“Since the turn of the year we’ve been on this wonderful run and everyone’s had the bit between their teeth and really felt like we were going to get promoted.”

The Reds achieved their ambition with four games to spare having gone on a 14-game unbeaten run, with Tuesday night’s decisive 2-0 triumph over Yeovil Town their 12th win in that time. Beyond that, Stanley have lost only once in the league since Boxing Day.

Conneely is one of five current Stanley players who narrowly missed out on a place in League One on the final day two years ago.

He feels success is even sweeter now.

“It feels brilliant. Relief is the over-riding emotion. From two years ago to be in this position right now is very satisfying,” he added, revealing promotion has erased the heartache he has harboured for two years.

“It does for me, we’re in League One now, and it makes this moment even better.

“It would have been a great moment two years ago if we’d gone straight up, but to have experienced that pain and then to come back to be in League One, after saying all year that we wanted to get promoted, to achieve that goal, it’s a great feeling.

“The five lads, John and Jimmy (Bell) who were here and all the fans, I don’t know if we ever got over it losing out on that final day, and then losing to Wimbledon in the play-offs after being in such a strong position.

“To come back and get ourselves promoted into League One, we’re very satisfied.”