DEAN HOYLE watched Town provide the perfect incentive for fans to snap up cut-price centenary season-tickets by clinching a dramatic derby victory over Leeds and beamed: “I’m ecstatic.”

As the £100 tickets went on sale this morning, the man who will take control of Town at the end of 2008-09 and has joined forces with current owner Ken Davy to bankroll the cheap admission offer was still reflecting on last night’s thrilling 1-0 win.

Andy Holdsworth’s 76th-minute header brought Gerry Murphy the first win of his second spell as caretaker manager, and as well as Hoyle, delighted home supporters in a season’s-best Galpharm crowd of 16,413 (3,296 from Leeds).

The three-point haul from a hard-fought derby which brought red cards for Leeds skipper Jonathon Douglas and Town’s Jon Worthington, who will now be suspended for Saturday’s home clash with Tranmere, put Town 12th in League I.

But card tycoon and chairman-elect Hoyle is setting his sights higher, saying: “That performance showed just what we’ve been missing this season.

“We got commitment, passion, everything you could ask for from the players.

“It’s a great start for the season-ticket offer, but it’s about much more than that.

“If we can reproduce this kind of display next season, then we’ll have a great chance of success.

“When Michael Collins hit the bar, I think we all thought it was going to be one of those nights, but it just goes to show where effort gets you.

“I’m pleased for everyone connected with the club, and we all want more matches like this one, which showed what a sleeping giant we are.

“The reaction I’ve had has been brilliant. I think people appreciate a man with blue and white blood in his veins getting involved in the club.

“It won’t be easy, but I want to take this club forward and I’m going to give it a real go.”

On the hunt for a new manager Hoyle said: “We’re still on course to hold second interviews next week.

“If whoever gets the job was watching last night’s game, I’d expect them to crawl to Huddersfield on broken glass to manage this team.”

l Murphy’s delight – Page 49.