At the start of the season he sold Chris Lucketti to Preston North End in a £750,000 deal, after 76 appearances for Town.

As the top six challenge faded, he made a canny loan signing, gifted young striker Leon Knight (from Chelsea).

However, Knight received a red card during a league game with near neighbours Oldham Athletic and ended up missing the Play-Offs he had been largely responsible for getting the team to.

After losing the first leg 3–1 at Bloomfield Road, Town took a 2–0 lead in the reverse at the McAlpine Stadium, the match went to extra time, but their party was spoiled by Martin Bullock's golden goal.

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