SAINTS skipper Dean Hammond has said it will be “a dream” to play for the club in the Championship.

The matchday captain has been a pillar of strength in central midfield for this season’s promotion-winning side.

And he can now look forward to the prospect of leading the team out in the second tier this August.

Monday’s 3-1 win at Plymouth effectively ensured the club’s ticket out of League One, while Saturday’s home game against Walsall will officially confirm it.

For Hammond, pictured, it means realising the ambition he had when he made the switch to Saints in August 2009.

“It’s fantastic, that’s what I joined the club for,” said the 28-year-old, who moved to St Mary’s from Colchester in a deal worth about £300,000.

“Southampton is a massive club that should never have been in League One, and we’re a Championship team now – well, almost.

“That’s what I came to the club for and it’s fantastic. To be playing, hopefully, for a team like Southampton in the Champion-ship is a dream.”

Hammond admitted it was tough to put into words exactly how the players felt after Monday’s victory.

With the level of expectation at St Mary’s sky high going into the campaign, it was never likely to be a comfortable season.

So, while there was a lot of delight after the win at Plymouth, there was understandably also a sense of relief.

“It’s hard to describe at the moment,” said Hammond, when asked to sum up just how the players felt. The boys are very happy and have worked hard all season.

“A lot of dedication’s gone in, and we’re just so happy.

“There’s obviously a bit of relief as well, because obviously we were favourites to go up and everything.

“But we’ve done our job and we’re just over the moon.”

For now, it is time to simply savour promotion.

But it won’t be long before attention turns to next season’s march back into the Championship.

It is often said that how you finish a season is a good indication of how you will start the next one.

If you subscribe to that line of thinking, it is great news for Saints, who have won 12 of their last 14 games. And Hammond is hopeful that sort of form will continue into the Championship.

“Let’s hope so,” he said. “But, obviously, that’s a long way off now.

“We’re going to enjoy this first, because we’ve worked really hard for this, every single one of us – 25 or 30 players and all the staff.

“Obviously we look forward to playing in the Championship next year, but we’ll enjoy this moment.”