Pinchbeck United have been relegated from the United Counties League Premier Division North
Defiant manager Lewis Thorogood insists the hard work will start now to ensure Pinchbeck United bounce back stronger after a 'dark day' for the club.
The Knights will finish bottom of the United Counties League Premier Division North after a 2-0 home defeat to Sleaford Town on Tuesday night.
The impending relegation brings an end to Pinchbeck's tenure as a step five club following their promotion at the end of the 2017/18 season, but Thorogood is determined to lead a promotion charge next term.
He said: "The reality of the situation is that the haters will enjoy this moment and there will be many people jumping on the bandwagon criticising myself, the players, staff and club.
"I don't think people understand the work which we do behind the scenes and how difficult it is for this club to keep going.
"There is one thing for certain though that there are a lot of good things going on behind the scenes at this club from the junior side and different teams coming in to projects which we're working on.
"There are also different future projects which we are working on to make the club more sustainable and bigger.
"The rebuild for this football club starts now and I will build a side, hopefully retaining as many players as I can, to start a promotion push for next season.
"This does hurt and it is a dark day for the club but, moving forward, we have to rise from this and I hope that we come out of it stronger in the future.
"We will, of course, aim to try and do that in the first season and we will throw everything at it but it will be tough and difficult and I'm not going to take anything for granted."
Former Pinchbeck player Fin Armond put Sleaford ahead in the first half before goalkeeper Liam Flitton doubled the Greens' advantage after the break by scoring with a long clearance from inside his own penalty area.
Pinchbeck had shown plenty of promise throughout the match but their season-long failings again came to the fore.
Thorogood added: "I thought we started really bright. We were on the front foot and showed lots of positivity.
"The lads came out and did what I asked of them, which was to play with some pride, throw everything at it and see where it took us.
"The first goal was a well-taken finish which I have no qualms about but we should have done better to clear the ball from that area.
"It was much of a muchness after that. I felt we looked fairly resolute but didn't really lay a glove going forward, although equally they didn't really test us.
"I felt we came out for the second half and played some good football. We neutralised them quite well and then the second goal probably sums up our season. You just couldn't foresee it happening."
Pinchbeck complete their league campaign on Saturday with a home match against AFC Mansfield at the Sir Halley Stewart ground where they already have an agreement in place to play their matches next season.
