Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp sympathised with Paul Merson following the news that the former England midfield player had returned to gambling.

However, Redknapp warned Merson not to let his gambling affect his football career.

Speaking after Pompey ended their Nationwide First Division championship season in style with a 5-0 victory at Bradford City, Redknapp said: "I understand gambling more than any other manager. I like a bet myself and my dad was a street bookie, but if it gets you it can be a problem.

"I know how difficult it can be. Paul says it affects him with his kids, but I have told him a professional footballer has one chance to make his money and you don't want to let it go through your hands.

"It has not shown in his form but maybe in his moods. He is going to the Tony Adams clinic for help.

"He doesn't do drink or drugs but he says gambling is the worst of the lot."

However, Redknapp paid tribute to Merson's contribution to Portsmouth's championship-winning season.

He said: "Paul has another year on his contract and he has been brilliant."

The star of Pompey's runaway 5-0 victory was their Bulgarian International striker Svetoslav Todorov who scored a hat-trick to take his tally of goals in a memorable season to 26.

Redknapp said: "It was good to come to Bradford and win as we did. We owed it to our large band of supporters to put in a good performance.

"Todorov has had a great season. He is leading scorer in the First Division after today's goals. I bought him from my old club West Ham and he got a lot of stick at first, but I thought at £300,000 he was too good to be true. He has done marvellously, proving what a great player he is."

Disappointed Bradford manager Nicky Law said: "We never competed enough. We lost our shape and when you are up against quality players you pay the price.

"We have lots of players out on contract and lots of boys out there on the field.

"I think that is why we are finishing the season on a poor note."

Seven thousand Pompey fans who made the long journey to West Yorkshire provided a celebration party atmosphere for the last match of the season and the players treated them to a sparkling display of football coupled with some ruthless finishing that has taken them to the Premiership.

The scoreline was harsh on the Bradford side who have ended their season with four successive defeats, but it showed why Pompey have been the outstanding team in the first division.

Bradford began brightly and top scorer Andy Gray and defender Robert Molenaar both went close in the first 10 minutes, but once Italian defender Gianluca Festa put them ahead in his last match for Portsmouth before returning to Italy there was only going to be one winner.

The Pompey players wore white boots supplied by his firm - Festa's Trademark- as a tribute to their team-mate and he did not disappoint them, although there was an element of luck about his 19th-minute goal when his shot was deflected off Claus Jorgensen past the helpless Aidan Davison.

Davison did well to stop a shot from Yacubu Ayegbini with his legs two minutes later after a bad mistake by Molenaar, but Molenaar almost made amends when his header was stopped on the line by Shaka Hislop.

The game dramatically swung Portsmouth's way when they scored two goals in three minutes early in the second half.

Steve Stone supplied the cross for Todorov to head the ball into the net from the edge of the six yard area after 48 minutes.

Then, two minutes later, Ayegbini crossed for Todorov to slam the ball into the net for Pompey's third goal.

Gus Uhlenbeek smashed a 30-yard shot against the post and Mark Bower headed against the bar in the space of two minutes before Todorov completed his hat-trick with a harsh looking penalty after 57 minutes.

David Wetherall was adjudged to have brought him down in the box and the Bulgarian completed his hat-trick from the spot.

Stone scored Portsmouth's fifth after 67 minutes when he picked up a loose ball on the right before unleashing a fierce angled shot into the far corner of the net from 25 yards.

That goal took Portsmouth beyond the 100 mark in all competitions of the season.