SEAN Gregan could not accept such an unhappy ending to Preston's fairytale season.

The North End battler sat in the centre circle and wept as they failed to clinch their second successive promotion -- and fulfill the dream of playing in the Premiership -- in the spectacular surroundings of the Millennium Stadium.

Instead the skipper was left devastated in front of 54,000 fans -- more than 30,000 cheering on Preston -- who gave their all for both sides.

"It was an emotional day for us, especially at the end, and it would have been brilliant if we could have done it for the fans.

"But we didn't play as well as we could and we couldn't quite get the goal. At the end they hit us with two killer goals.

"It's been a brilliant two years for us, getting here was a bonus, but good luck to Bolton, after all they finished third in the table."

The North End players sank to their knees as, after Gareth Farrelly had put Bolton ahead in the 17th minute, super sub Michael Ricketts fired home in the 90th minute and Ricardo Gardner's solo effort made it three in injury time.

There was no consoling several weeping Preston players -- until Moyes roused them for a final thank-you to the Deepdale fans who never stopped enjoying the Millennium experience.

And Bolton boss Sam Allardyce took time out from his own celebrations where he will 'attend as many parties as I can' to spare a moment for Gregan and co.

The former Preston player, coach and caretaker boss knew they would be feeling a 'real gut-wrench' after he experienced the same last season, losing three semi-finals.

"I know how David Moyes and his team will be feeling," said Big Sam who has fulfilled his own ambition of managing in the top flight. "It is a huge disappointment, a real gut wrench.

"Not perhaps so much now but when it sinks in in one or two days.

"And then you start worrying that you have to do all that hard work to get that opportunity again.

"I feel for them but in his first season in Division One, his club -- and what used to be my club -- have come to within a hares' whisker of the Premiership. That is a magnificent achievement."

It was just a step too far for the Preston players who perhaps found the Stadium and the whole occasion just too much.

Many of the Deepdale fans -- who mixed happily with the Bolton supporters on the streets of Cardiff -- gasped as they took in their first experience of the Millennium Stadium describing it as 'awesome.'

And many of the Preston players must have felt the same as they came out to a stadium announcer who added to the nerves with a Premiership countdown, the deafening sound of the crowd, the national anthem and fireworks.

Only two of North End's players had even played in Division One before this season -- their longest serving player Lee Cartwright, from Rossendale, remembering the days of the Fourth Division football at Deepdale.

But Bolton-- including the experience of former Rover Colin Hendry at the back and Dean Holdsworth up front -- immediately found their feet and Farrelly proved to be Preston's bogey man again.

The former Everton midfielder has only scored four goals all season -- and two of them have come against Preston although this one did take a slight deflection off the boot of Mark Rankine.

It meant a lot to Farrelly whose goal for Everton meant Bolton were relegated from the Premiership three seasons ago "Perhaps the fans will talk to me now!" he said.

The Deepdale crowd didn't get chance to cheer a goal although both Rankine and David Healy came close -- Healy had the best effort a 12 yard shot pushed away by Matt Clarke.

Then Ricketts did the damage after racing free and taking the ball past keeper David Lucas at the death -- and several Preston players collapsed to the floor with Healy throwing his shinpads off the pitch in sheer frustration.

Jamaican international Gardner then had nothing to fear as he ran half the length of the pitch passed a dejected Preston back line to make the scoreline flattering to Bolton.

"We are disappointed. You can't get into this situation and not be," said Moyes.

"But it's certainly not a failure this season. The players were one game off the Premiership and it shows how far they have come in a short period.

"In the first half we didn't play well, then we threw everything forward and we were caught.

"But it was the first time for most of my players and hopefully they will learn from it and all be stronger.

"And the supporters were wonderful. The fact the crowd that have come this distance, and the cost, shows there is a support there that hopefully will be worthy of getting into the top flight."

And Moyes will be hoping they live happy ever after in the Premiership after giving the fairy-tale a happy ending next season.