Auto gear shift removal

Hi
Can somebody help my with this, I am SO FAR given conflicting infomation on how to remove this thing.
My Freelander is a 2001 v6 auto.
I have a nice wooden shift knob i would like to fit but can not get the orignal KNOB off,
so far i have been putting the selector leaver in Drive (D) and pressing the button on the knob in and at the same time pulling up on the knob with such force it feels like its about to snap or something. has not moved a bit.
can anybody advise.
Thanks
BADDOG

thank you for the link very usefull i,m going to try again tomorrow.
cheers

Bit of lube helps when you pull yer knob off

and as per the manual, dont put your face over your knob....it'll smack you in the fizzer....

Also make sure you don't angle yourself to knock off the rear view mirror too. You have to pull quite hard to get the auto lever off.

Thanks for all the advice,
I,m now endowed with a nice shiney knob which i intend to keep nice and polished.
It dose look very nice matches the rest of the wooden dash trim,
I need anothewr two wooden door pulls though to complete the rear doors so if anybody knows where i can find some
please let me know.
Once again Thanks
Baddog

Hi Thread
Don't listen to all the complicated advice - you will work at it for days and still not et the centre consul out.. This is a 5 minute very easy job as follows:-
1. Remove the gear shift knob by placing the gearshift lever in neutral and simply pulling upwards. The exercise requires some strength so keep pulling and it will suddenly come off.
2. The gaitor is held in place by 4 plastic locating pins - 2 on each side of the gear lever facing inwards towards the gear lever. These pins support a spring loaded frame which constitutes the frame at the bottom of the gaitor.
3. In order to get a better idea of what it looks like from the inside, slit one of the seams on the old gaitor - you are going to throw it away in any event. Take a thin bladed knife or similar tool and insert between the plastic surround which forms the surround in which the gaitor is located and the metal frame at the bottom of the gaitor and with a bit of leverage in the area of the pins, the frame will pop out downwards and the gaitor is easily removed over the gear lever.
4. Replace the new one by slipping over the lever and using the knife pop the frame back into place by inserting under the locating pins on one side and then leveraging the other side into place - also a 5 minute job.
5. Replace gear knob by forcing downwards.
6. I had a new gaitor made by my local leather shop using the original frame and ring at the top and it looks amazing.