Stoke were promoted back to the top flight after a 23-year absence following a goalless Coca-Cola Championship draw against Leicester at the Britannia Stadium.

However, it was heartbreak for the Foxes as the result saw them slip out of the top two divisions for the first time in their 124-year history.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions on the final day of the season for the 26,609 inside the Britannia Stadium, particularly for those supporters from Leicester whose transistor radios were tuned into the extraordinary events taking place at St Mary's between Southampton and Sheffield United.

The tide turned many times for Foxes fans, but ultimately Southampton's 3-2 victory ensured they would be frequenting League One stadia next season.

By contrast, Stoke's promotion was all-but sealed when news filtered through midway into the second half that Hull were losing at Ipswich.

Whatever the result had been at Portman Road, Stoke's draw meant they went up any way and it sparked a massive pitch invasion by their jubilant supporters.

Boss Tony Pulis thanked the support of chairman Peter Coates after clinching promotion.

Pulis was persuaded to return for a second spell as manager by Coates almost a year to the day after he had left the club to take over at Plymouth.

Last season the club missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the campaign, but 12 months on Stoke are back in the top flight for the first time since 1985 and Pulis insisted Coates deserves at least a share of the credit.

"I am obviously very pleased; pleased for everybody connected with the football club - the fans, the players and especially the staff and the people that work closely with you," Pulis said.

"They have all been a massive part of it and I am very pleased for them. After the game I just took the staff away and shared a glass of champagne with them all, just to savour the moment.

"But a massive thank you goes to Peter Coates above anything else.

"Two years ago I was in Portugal on the beach having just kept Plymouth up and I was really enjoying it at Plymouth.

"However, Peter rang me and said he was going to buy the club and that the offer to the Icelandic directors had gone through.

"He wanted me to come back because he wanted to have a bit of a go at it [promotion].

"I said last time I was here I got criticised on a budget that was a bottom-three budget and there was no way I was going to come back unless he gave me a chance to compete.

"He said I would be able to compete and he has kept his word. Everything he said and promised he has been true to."

Leicester had known only a win would guarantee their safety, but they couldn't find a way through the hosts' defence.

The closest they came was when defender Richard Stearman's header hit the bar in the 82nd minute, but defeat would have been harsh on Stoke who dominated the clash.

Southampton's win - coupled with Sheffield Wednesday's 4-1 victory over Norwich - meant a draw wasn't good enough for the Foxes and their manager Ian Holloway, who admitted he was at the lowest point of his career.

"I can't really put into words how I am feeling at the moment," said a disconsolate Holloway.

"This is the lowest point of my career, without a shadow of a doubt.

"I am just bitterly disappointed at the moment because if we had produced performances like that for the rest of the season then we wouldn't be where we are now.

"The spirit, the focus and the work rate was all there but it has been few and far between this season and the table doesn't lie."

Down on the south coast, Saints had to come from behind to secure their status.

Stephen Quinn (23) had given the Blades, who still had an outside chance of making the play-offs heading into the match, the lead.

Marek Saganowski equalised for the Saints three minutes before half-time and Stern John then grabbed his first goal of the match in the 53rd minute.

United substitute Jonathan Stead levelled matters in the 65th minute but John smashed the ball home from inside the penalty area four minutes later to score the decisive goal.

John was then sent off with 10 minutes left for a second bookable offence to set up a tense finale - but Nigel Pearson's side hung on to avoid the drop.

Pearson said afterwards: "Relief is the overwhelming feeling at this time.

"At a number of points it looked like we were going to come out on the wrong side, so obviously I'm delighted.

"I didn't know the other scores - some of my staff did but I just wanted to focus on the game. We were up against a side in form and it was never going to be easy."

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