Steve Davis gives us his post match reaction from Vale Park.
Steve Davis told the club's official web-site that it hurts to be relegated for the second time in his footballing career but the Alex boss says his intention is now to build a squad capable of bouncing back at the first attempt next season. Crewe's 3-0 defeat at Vale Park saw us relegated to League Two for the first time in four seasons.
Steve told us: “It is a sad day for everyone connected with the club but we didn’t lose our League One status today, we have lost it over the course of the season because we have not won enough games, it is as simple as that.
“It has come quicker than I would have liked because I wanted us to show some fight and take it to the last few games like we have managed to do over the last couple of seasons. We have managed to do that over the last couple of years but we haven’t been good enough this season. We have fallen short.
“The game today was a carbon copy of many of our games this season. It was a tight game until their second goal in the last ten minutes and then we wilted a bit. You could see from the body language of the players that they were very down. Port Vale managed the 1-0 very well and we found it difficult to break them down and create chances.
“It is disappointing for everyone and the players have to realise what relegation means to the club and to me. We want to be playing at this level and we haven’t been good enough to do that.
“I have been relegated twice now and it hurts. We all share the emotions of today and for some of the young players this will be the first time they have experienced it. It could make them stronger and they know what they need to be to be at this level and higher. They shouldn’t want to feel what this is like ever again.
“We have been clinging onto our League One status for a few years now and we have managed to take it to the final day and survive. It hasn’t happened this time so now our ambition has to be to bounce back next season. That is what I want from them. I want them to do everything they can to make sure we are only in League Two for one season. That has to be the ambition.
The boss added: “I know we need some characters in the club. I know that I need some more winners and the types of players we need to be successful. “