Leeds United face another season in League One after defeat in their promotion playoff to Doncaster yesterday.
"But what I'm trying to impress on the guys in the dressing room is that myself and the coaching staff are very proud of them.
"Each individual should be proud of what they have done. To start the campaign with such a hefty handicap and get right to the final play-off match, they deserve to be applauded.
"They've continually picked themselves up and got on with it.
"It's simple. That group of players won 27 games, gained 91 points and barring the handicap would have been promoted."