At some stage over the next week, Abbott expects the reality to bite and the tears to flow, but Carlisle's assistant manager will not allow the taste of defeat to sour his appreciation of the team who have ruined his season and that of his club.

For several years a central cog in the machine of Leeds United's academy, the presence of Abbott's former club in next weekend's League One play-off final will bring him a small feeling of satisfaction alongside the overwhelming sense of regret he is bound to experience.

Carlisle's spirited season ended on Thursday night with a 2-0 defeat to Leeds at Brunton Park in the second leg of a scintillating play-off semi-final; United, as victors do, will leave the Cumbrian club for dead with Wembley their next and final destination.

Abbott may rue their involvement at the expense of Carlisle but he does not begrudge it. Nor will he struggle to raise a smile if the promotion which United believe is theirs to win materialises in London next Sunday.

He has followed the struggle at Elland Road this season at a distance, patently aware of how extreme a handicap United's 15-point penalty was, and his dignified response to Thursday loss – a result which saw Carlisle beaten 3-2 on aggregate through an injury-time goal from Jonathan Howson – revealed an unbroken bond with the club he left to become Carlisle's assistant in 2006.

"When you think about what Leeds have overcome – and I'm thinking especially of the 15 points – the only word I can use to describe their season is phenomenal," said Abbott.

"If they do go up, nobody in this league can take away what they've done or claim that promotion's not deserved. You won't hear that accusation from me and you won't hear it from Carlisle.

"We're hurting badly because we feel like we've done well this season but whilst we'll share our disappointment quietly within our own club, there's a genuine part of me and a very big part of me that now hopes Leeds United will be promoted.

"We're proud of our players but there's no attempt on our part to deny that Leeds have earned their place in the final.

"John (Ward, Carlisle's manager) was trying to find the words to say in the dressing room afterwards and I just popped up with the simple phrase 'thank you'. It was a thank you to the players for giving us as a club the chance to compete with the best teams in the league. Over two legs, we've come up against one of the very best.

"For that I think we owe the players, and that's the feeling I'll take away with me into the summer. Managers need a squad who give you everything you ask for, and we've had that.