Ward: "I told them that was embarrassing"

The management didn't hold back after a poor performance saw the Bulls slump to a 4-0 thrashing by visiting Stamford.

"I said to the lads in there they know how I feel, that I can't thank them enough for the reaction they gave me when I took over as manager and for staying up mathematically, but today was embarrassing," manager Mark Ward told Bulls TV.

"We didn't have time to tell the lads [about the club's relegation] so they found out on social media.

"We trained this week and tried to get the mentality right but it was like flogging a dead horse today.

"I want to win, and circumstances don't change how I want to play and what I want to do."

Assistant manager Jon Froggatt echoed the gaffer's mentality and concerns following the defeat: "When you cross that white line it shouldn't matter to you, you should want to go on and win a game of football, whoever you're playing against.

"Today has been a bad end to a bad week - I feel for Mark, I think he's done a great job since he took over.

"To stay up mathematically to then be told that, it is deflating and I can see it from a player's point of view, they've worked their socks off all season to keep us in this league and it's been taken out of their hands for other issues."

Looking onward to a crucial game for the Bulls' hosts Carlton on Monday, the gaffer said he was "not looking forward" to the final away game of the season.

"I've told them for the sake of two games if you're not bothered, let me know before Monday.

"I'd rather go there with nine men, like we did at Wisbech when we had something to fight for and held our own - it's not that we can't do it, it's the mentality."