The Bees clinched the Nationwide Conference championship courtesy of a 3-1 win over Halifax. Fairclough previously won the title as Stevenage Borough boss in 1996 but his team were turned down for promotion due to ground grading.

Q. Congratulations Paul and how do you feel?

A. I feel very excited, with a great sense of achievement but also relief.

Q. Having been turned down for promotion nine years ago with Stevenage, is Barnet’s title success even sweeter for you now?

A. It is particularly sweet yes. At Stevenage, there was a hint that we weren’t going to make it. There was a massive court case and it was only four weeks before the start of the season that we got the final nail in the coffin. So I am not going to really believe we have done it until I am walking out with the Barnet team on to a pitch in League Two in August!

Q. You have made history by becoming the first manager to win the Conference with two different clubs. How does that feel?

A. Yes someone has pointed that out to me. It wasn’t something I was aware of but I am now. So I am very proud but also a little bit sad about it was well. It puts me nine years behind schedule.

Q. You have always wanted to manage a Football League club haven’t you?

A. Yes of course. I wasn’t good enough as a footballer to play in the League. So I have to say that the next best thing is to be successful as a coach and manager. That’s what I set out to do.

Q. What has been the secret of Barnet’s success this season then?

A. I don’t know! We have done a lot of different things! The players have probably set about their tasks in a different way than they have done before.

We do a great deal of talking and soul-searching as we work on the mental strength of the game. We have also increased the fitness levels at the club and we have tremendous team spirit. We have had long days and some long nights as well but everyone feels it is all worthwhile now.

Q. The Conference has moved on tremendously in recent years with most clubs turning full-time. So was it harder to win the title this season than it was nine years ago?

A. I think that is the case. We had an excellent side at Stevenage but there wasn’t so much competition in those days. There were about half a dozen sides that were able to compete with us consistently then.

But this season, you’ve got 15-16 good teams and even the clubs at the bottom are always going to give you a tough game. There is a lot of depth in the Conference now.

Q. So how well can Barnet do now going back into the Coca-Cola League?

A. I believe in the players. I saw all the photos of the team in the newspapers over the weekend and I was quite shocked by how young they all looked. They are a very youthful side and there is a lot of potential here.

I am really excited about the future prospects for Barnet.