Albion Rovers midfielder Michael Paton admits their relegation from League Two is down to a lack of consistency but reckons in any other season they would have stayed up.
The Wee Rovers recorded the same points tally that earned them an eighth place finish last season, but this time 39 points was not enough to stop them finishing bottom of the pile in 10th and, ultimately, set them up for the pyramid play-off final defeat to Spartans.
No team has ever finished bottom with that amount of points in the SFL/SPFL era, which dates back to 1994/95 season, but Rovers have paid the penalty with Blair Henderson's spot-kick for Spartans sending them down to the Lowland League.
Spartans ran out 1-0 winners in Saturday's second leg and won 2-1 on aggregate to end Rovers' 120-year stay in the senior ranks after a League Two campaign that saw them thump the likes of title challengers Dumbarton 5-1 and champions Stirling Albion 2-0.
Ex-Aberdeen star Paton, who was also relegated from League Two as player/manager of Brechin City two years ago, said: "We are sore and I can't really put into words how I feel.
"It's still raw and it is going to take a long time to get over this one.
"It's the worst feeling in the world.
"Any other team in any other year who finishes with nearly 40 points, you are not at the bottom of the league.
"Teams were taking points off each other and it just shows you how tight it is.
"We were just lacking that wee bit of consistency and that's why we've ended up where we are because we were brilliant one game, then two games not so brilliant.
"There is a squad full of talent there and hopefully things will be a bit different next year, if the club is still able to hold on to some of those guys.
"Hopefully we can right a few wrongs and get the club back in the SPFL.
"We've had a rollercoaster season and I don't think there was much in both games.
"The penalty is the decider in the game and at the end of the day they've been a bit more cuter than us.
"They've stuck the penalty away, they've not given away much and ground it out."
Paton had no complaints about the penalty award, where Kyle Fleming tripped Jordan Tapping in the box, but felt referee Matthew MacDermid made the wrong decision in sending off skipper Blair Malcolm for violent conduct after he was judged to have kicked out at Spartans' Rhys Armstrong as he lay on the turf.
He added: "Initially, I didn't think it was a penalty but then I looked at Kyle's reaction and he didn't really complain that much, so I'm thinking maybe he has made a bit of contact.
"You know in these areas if you make a bit of contact, you do run the risk of giving the referee a decision to make.
"I think Blair's one, I don't agree with that one.
"I think the boy's head is down in that area where Blair's foot is. I don't think he has intentionally kicked him in the head, but it's a decision that's gone against us.
"We had to regroup with 10 men and when you go behind with 10 men, it's a hill to climb after that.
"Blair is a young lad and he probably thinks it is partially his fault that we got beat, but it is a collective effort.
"It's a sore one for him to get sent off in such a big game but it is a learning moment for him.
"Blair is an honest lad, he's never gone out to hurt anyone in the game, so he'll need to take it on the chin and move on from it."
The Wee Rovers must start preparing for life in the fifth tier and the departure of several key players.
Charlie Reilly will leave for a higher level after his sensational individual season earned him PFA League Two Player of the Year, and more will follow him out the door.
Asked about his future, Paton said: "I don't know. It's a very sore one just now and we are all down in the dumps.
"We will dust ourselves off, have some conversations over the next few weeks and see where things go from there."
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