Paddy Davitt King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins promised 'this is only the start' after the club sealed their first ever Southern League, Premier Division crown. Matt Nolan and Jack Defty clinched a memorable 2-0 win at Merthyr on Saturday for Keith Webb's side in front of a 500-strong travelling contingent.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins promised 'this is only the start' after the club sealed their first ever Southern League, Premier Division crown.

Matt Nolan and Jack Defty clinched a memorable 2-0 win at Merthyr on Saturday for Keith Webb's side in front of a 500-strong travelling contingent.

Lynn will play in the Conference second tier for the first time in their history after pipping title rivals Team Bath by two points on a dramatic final day.

The Norfolk club's switch to either the Blue Square North or South will be confirmed after promotion play offs are concluded this week.

Skipper Greg Crane lifted the championship shield amid jubilant scenes with plans for a homecoming party at The Walks ahead of this weekend's Ridgeons Premier reserve home game.

Lynn chief Bobbins insists clinching higher level football is an even bigger prize.

“We can't sit back now and rest on our laurels,” he said. “We've got out of the Southern League but we've achieved nothing yet. Our aim must be to get into the Conference because the ground, the town and the fans deserve that. You just have to look at how they travelled in such numbers. It really is hard to put it into words.

“What a fantastic effort from the coaching staff and all the players. Keith has had his detractors over the course of the season but he has worked ever so hard and so have the players. We should all be incredibly proud of them.

“I would like us to go into Blue Square South if I had a choice because I think that is more suited to our style of football but really at the moment its just about savouring this. Then we can look to put together a squad capable of winning the next league.”

Bobbins plans to bask in the championship euphoria before deciding if he will continue at the helm as the club embark on a new exciting era. Lynn's chairman revealed earlier this season he had rejected offers from clubs higher up the pyramid to join rival boards.

“Relief is my overriding emotion,” he said. “It's been a tough four years but hopefully this is onwards and upwards. I have to sit down after the weekend and have a think about it. It's a job that I've done for four years but I only stepped in as a stop gap initially for six months. We have meetings scheduled this week so planning is already underway.”

Bobbins was serenaded by Lynn's huge away support in front of the Main Stand after watching Webb's men turn the club's conference dream into reality.

“Days like today do make all the hard times worthwhile,” he said. “But that's football. If you knew what the result was going to be you probably wouldn't bother but we always like to make it interesting at King's Lynn. This one was just about getting over the line although I think we've been by far the best team in the league - no question. But I think it was our day because they had some very good chances. On another day they go in.”