Thompson said: "I'm willing to take that challenge on. We all are. It's a great challenge for me, I've had 19 seasons as a player and this could be the best one.
"If I can get out of this division the right way, it would be the biggest achievement I've had in my career, and I've had some big ones.
"We think we can do it, and so does the gaffer. Automatic promotion might be asking a bit too much, but he certainly thinks we're capable of it. His mentality has to rub off on the team.
"I did hold out a bit of hope that the penalty would be reduced, but you have to use your anger and channel it in the right way. After all that's gone on, it would be very nice to sit back in May with a glass of bubbly, that's for sure."