Northampton Town are celebrating promotion to EFL League One and manager Keith Curle is amongst the happiest as he achieved something he had failed to do in previous stints at Mansfield Town, Chester City, Torquay United, Notts County and Carlisle United.

The 56-year old watched as his side dismantled an Exeter City team that was appearing in the League Two playoff final for the third time in the last four years. It was also third time lucky as Curle had previously lost this fixture with Mansfield and Carlisle.

'I knew I needed a promotion'

"Exeter are a good team and we had to show them the respect they deserved", Curle said. "We didn't shy away from our fundamentals and we stuck to our game plan. I will enjoy this result with my family, now is not the time to talk about individuals. 

"Being selfish, I knew I needed a promotion, everybody knew that, I don't shy away from that. Part of my interview with the chairman when I came to the club was I told him 'I need a promotion and I need a football club that believes in what I am going to try to do.”

Curle was keen to give credit to those at the club who have worked so hard to make the achievement possible.

"I knew it needed a lot of hard work but I had that belief that this club could do something. Fair play to the chairman and the investors at the football club, they've allowed me to create an environment and a platform for me to work that's very enjoyable.

"Tonight is a real reward for everyone at the football club and for the fans for all their support. This is a very good football club, it is a real team effort and I am delighted for everybody connected with the club. We will enjoy this result but the real hard work starts now for League One."

Curle hopeful of securing key frontman on permanent basis

Callum Morton is the main reason Northampton are headed to the third tier, having scored twice in the second leg of the Cobblers play-off semifinal against Cheltenham Town and adding another in the final. 

On loan from West Bromwich Albion, Curle is hopeful of the 20-year old remaining with the PTS Academy Stadium outfit on a permanent basis and has indicated talks with Baggies have already begun.

"Those conversations have preliminarily already taken place", he said. "We know in our opinion that Callum is a player that needs to be progressing. He had a standstill with a bad injury, but that goes back to our recruitment. We knew about Callum 18 months ago and tried signing him just over a year ago.

"As soon as he was back training and played one game we signed him and said that we would nurse him back in and give him the time to develop. Hopefully West Brom see a player of theirs developing, scoring goals and creating headlines."

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