BURNLEY defender Clarke Carlisle has expressed his delight after former club Blackpool gained promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.

Blackpool beat Cardiff 3-2 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley – thanks to a winner from former Accrington Stanley striker Brett Ormerod – to secure a fairytale promotion that had more than a few echoes of the Clarets’ ascent to the top flight 12 months ago.

Carlisle, who was the man of the match when Burnley beat Sheffield United in last year’s play-off final, started his career at Bloomfield Road during their days in the third tier of English football.

And he has paid tribute to Tangerines boss Ian Holloway, who he worked with at QPR and still remains grateful to for helping him through his alcohol problems. Holloway’s assistant at Blackpool is former Burnley midfielder Steve Thompson.

“I never thought I’d see Blackpool in the top flight,” said Carlisle, who recently signed a new two-year deal at Burnley.

“I’m absolutely delighted for them. Burnley and Blackpool have both come through this magnificent showpiece to earn the place in the top flight.

“They are almost identical, but sadly ours was last season and theirs is this season.”

With £90m said to be on offer to the winners of the Championship play-off final, the defender believes Blackpool should take the opportunity to improve their training facilities – an issue departing skipper Steven Caldwell recently raised as an issue at Burnley.

And Carlisle says the Blackpool players can look forward to playing in the top flight, even though they will be favourites to be relegated – just as the Clarets were.

“They’ve got to look forward to everything they’ve always dreamed of, playing against their role models and going to the stadiums you’ve always dreamed of playing in,” he said.

“Not only did you help get the side there, but the manager actually has the belief in you to perform at that level at well. That can really carry you through matches.

“I think if you’re going to attract quality players to your club you’re going to need the facilities, you’re going to need to sell to them that you’re giving them the best possible chance to compete in that division.”