Sam Ricketts: I knew Wolves would be successful under Kenny Jackett

Ricketts was the head coach's first signing when he was appointed last June and Jackett immediately made him captain, having worked together before at Swansea.

It's been a perfect marriage as Wolves have won promotion at the first attempt in stunning style: champions of League One with the most points of any team at that level in history after Saturday's 3-0 win against Carlisle saw them finish on 103, beating Charlton's record from 2011-12 by two.

That completed an astonishing campaign which has seen them break six club records and a second national one after claiming the highest number of clean sheets ever in the third tier, 25.

Ricketts led the plaudits for his gaffer, saying: "This season has highlighted to a lot of people what a great manager he really is and confirmed what I already knew.

"I'm not surprised – he's the reason I signed here.

"I knew the club would be successful under him and he hasn't let me down.

"I spoke about how highly I regarded him before this season.

"I hadn't worked with him for about eight years but he's surpassed my personal expectations on how good a manager he is.

"I think he's gone hugely unnoticed and not got the recognition he has deserved, possibly, before this season."

Ricketts stressed the title is just the beginning of a journey towards more success for a club transformed under Jackett.

"The initial response is part one is done," said the former Bolton, Hull and Swansea defender.

"We're not saying: 'this is it' - we want to continue to improve and get better and see where it takes us.

"It's been called a new era and rightly so; we've got a bright future with a huge amount of promising, young talent.

"You always bring in a couple of players to keep the evolution going but we've got a great basis here to push on again."

Wolves' points tally – sparked by a run of 17 wins in 21 games - is the third highest ever in the Football League after Reading with 106 in 2005-06 and Sunderland's 105 in 1998-99.

And Ricketts revealed the secret of their success.

"Set yourself personal short-term and long-term goals," he said.

"If you just look at the long-term you'll never achieve the short term.

"So it was important to set those short term goals and strive to meet them."