TRANMERE ROVERS chairman Mark Palios is confident the club can put their Wembley disappointment behind them and get “back where it belongs”.
Despite being favourites ahead of Sunday's National League promotion final at Wembley, some slack first half defending allowed Forest Green Rovers to march into an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Micky Mellon's side were unable to get back into the game and will now have to prepare for a third season in Non-League football.
Former Fleetwood and Shrewsbury boss Mellon has helped galvanise the club since his appointment in October, guiding them to the FA Trophy semi-finals as well as second place in the National League.
Rovers finished on 95 points, a club record haul, but remain in Non-League following a disappointing day at the National Stadium.
Speaking on Monday morning, chairman Palios was in philosophical mood and outlined that the club are in a great position to push for promotion again next term.
He said: “There is no glossing over the fact that the season has not ended how we wanted it to. A single 90 minute game will always have an element of lottery to it, but on the day Forest Green were better than us, clinically took their chances, and were deserved victors.
“But we should also balance the disappointment with pride in many other aspects of what we have done on the pitch this year. We ended the season with a club record 95 points – more than two points a game.
“In any other division that would have won automatic promotion. We reached the semi-finals of the Trophy and the play-off finals, earning the club's first trip to Wembley in 17 years.
“In Micky we have a great manager with a passion and understanding for this club and we have budgeted to make sure we will again have a very competitive, top third, budget for next season.
“But we were not far off this year – if we keep doing the right things, and stick together, we will get there and get Tranmere back where it belongs.
“One year ago today, Forest Green were licking their wounds having lost the play-off final, and today they are celebrating promotion. Everyone working at the club will be focused on making sure that next year it is us celebrating.”
