TONY Parkes says Blackpool’s meteoric rise is the Premier League’s ‘biggest fairytale’.

While Blackburn Rovers’ title win, Burnley’s unlikely promotion and Leeds United’s fall from grace have stunned football over the past two decades, Parkes insists what the Tangerines have already achieved tops the lot.

The Rovers legend would have more reason than most to be a little disingenuous about Blackpool’s achievements, having been let down by the club at the end of his four-year spell at Bloomfield Road, but he instead has nothing but pride for what his former players have done.

He said: “In terms of football these days, Blackpool are a very, very small club. Their facilities are lacking, a lot of the staff are still part time and everything about them points to the Premier League being the totally wrong league for them to be in.

“That makes what they have done an even bigger achievement though. It is incredible and almost baffling when you consider how far they have come. It was only three years ago they were in League One.

“I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say them getting promoted into the Premier League is the biggest and most unlikely story ever in the history of the league.

“It is a story that I don’t think will ever be emulated by anyone and if they stay up, well it could be the biggest story in the history of football. I don’t think anyone realises quite what an achievement it has been for the club.”

Parkes, who enjoyed more than 30 years at Rovers as a player, coach, assistant manager and caretaker boss, will have no divided loyalties tomorrow as he looks for Sam Allardyce’s men to return from Blackpool with a vital three points.

But, having been at Blackpool for the start of their journey, the now Rovers scout insists he still looks back on his time there with immense satisfaction - regardless of the forgettable way it all ended.

The 61-year-old was Simon Grayson’s assistant when Blackpool won promotion to the Championship in 2007 and was also caretaker boss in 2008 following Grayson’s departure to Leeds United.

Despite helping them stave off relegation, Parkes was forced to quit after a derisory offer to him to become the club’s permanent boss brought about the arrival of Ian Holloway.

The rest is history and, while Parkes understandably feels let down by his former employers, he prefers to celebrate their recent achievements.

He said: “There are a lot of the players from mine and Simon Grayson’s days still there, in fact most of them. They are a great bunch of lads and I am delighted for them.

“I am not being disrespectful but a lot of these players came to the club as journeyman Division One players. They are now Premier League players and the improvement in them has been immense.

“Of course I was disappointed with how it all ended for me but I don’t want to get into that. I have moved on and am back at Blackburn Rovers, my club, and Blackpool are doing brilliantly. I am genuinely delighted for them all.

“Of course I hope Rovers get the points on Saturday, and I confident they have enough to do that, but wouldn’t it be great if Blackpool could stay up? And why not? They have started the season well enough.”

So back to making the impossible possible. Parkes reflects on his days at Bloomfield Road when almost every day was a cash-crisis as they fought an increasingly tough battle to survive.

He said: “When I was first there, half of the team were loan players and if it wasn’t for the loan system, I’m not sure the club would have survived. They were up against it financially.

“They only have one training pitch and half the time I was there that wasn’t in a fit state to train on and so we were left looking for places to train, often we ended up on a rugby pitch.

“Did I think those players were capable of getting the club into the Premier League? No. A huge deal of credit has to go to the manager and the players.

“I do believe that was their one and only chance though. Had they not gone up, I fear life in the Championship would have become a real struggle that would ultimately have ended in the worst.

“Now though, they have so much to look forward to. Whatever happens this season, they have that financial platform now. They are set up for years I am glad to say.”