A distraught David Artell could not hide his disappointment after his Crewe Alexandra side were relegated following a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Doncaster United. The Alex boss apologised to the club’s supporters for the season and our inability to win enough games to give us a chance of remaining in League One.

Crewe now have a big rebuilding programme ahead and Artell is determined to turn things around and bring success back to the club.

After our relegation was confirmed, Artell told the club’s official website: “It is a sad day for everyone associated with the club and it doesn’t matter what I say to the players at the moment. It has happened for various reasons, culminating in what has happened today.

“The supporters are entitled to their opinion and that comes with being the manager. I am the one right in the firing line and I understand that. I can only apologise to the fans for the season we have had because it has been a season to forget. Across the board we have not been good enough and I’m top of the tree.

“Now we have a rebuilding programme to do. We have done it once, we have done it once and we will do it again. Every day I’ve learnt something. I have learnt more in this last 12 months than the previous four years without a shadow of a doubt. I suppose you learn things you don’t want to learn about as a manager in this situation but I have, lots of things.

The boss added: “We have to rebuild the team and rebuild the squad and I think I am the man to do that. I am determined to bring back the success we have had over the last two or three years.”