Norwich City manager Alex Neil has said that he does not care if the club's Championship playoff success has finally proved his doubters wrong.
The 33-year-old Scot was a surprise appointment when he succeeded Neil Adams in January, but he took the Canaries into the playoffs and then to an instant promotion back to the Premier League.
Norwich's promotion was confirmed as they beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Wembley on Monday.
When asked if he felt that he had silenced the doubters, Neil told the Pink Un: "That sort of thing does not bother me. People will always question someone they don't know who came from Hamilton.
"But I don't take myself that seriously with people maybe disagreeing with my methods. In football, everybody's open to criticism at the higher level you get to – you need to make sure you take it on the chin.
"People will continue this season, next season, and that will continue. If guys like [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo can get criticised, then anybody is open to it. I will just do as well as I can to make sure we are ready."
Neil led Hamilton Academical to promotion to the Scottish Premiership last season via the Championship playoffs.
Steven Toplis
