Chris Aitken has vowed to ring the changes after Kilwinning Rangers suffered the agony of the dreaded drop.
A 4-2 defeat at Troon last Wednesday night saw Buffs lose their West of Scotland League Premier Division status with a game to spare.
It’s a bitter blow for the club which has taken great strides off the park in recent years but been poor on it this season.
And gaffer Aitken insists the hard work starts now as he sets about building a squad which will see Buffs make a quickfire top-flight return.
He told the Irvine Herald: “There is major disappointment and I think it has hit home for the players.
“They haven’t set themselves on fire this season and they didn’t do what the previous manager brought them in to do.
“I inherited a team that was used to getting beat and wasn’t fit. There was a lot of things we tried to overcome.
“But I’m a big believer in that if you want success, you need to fail – and I’m not going to tell you otherwise that we’ve failed this season. The next four or five weeks is really where I am going to earn my corn.
“I’m going to need to speak to the players and have some honest conversations. We need to get back up next season at the first time of asking.
“The work has already started and there will be major changes next season in all aspects. There will be major changes squad-wise.”
Recruitment is critical for bosses and Aitken knows how he wheels and deals in the transfer market this summer will shape Buffs’ promotion hopes.
The manager will embark on a watching brief while also pursuing his top playing targets.
“I’ll get judged on the players I bring in and they need to be the right type,” he added. “The next four or five weeks are crucial. It’s important I get out and see as many games as I can.
“Have I got a shortlist of players I want to try and get? Absolutely. Am I going to get them all? The answer is no.”
Last week’s Portland Park showdown with Troon was must-win for Buffs if they wanted to set up a Survival Saturday shoot-out with Arthurlie.
But late goals from Dean Fulton and Sam Jamieson sealed Kilwinning’s fate after Keiren Wood and Gavin Millar had wiped out Sam McCloskey’s first-half double for the Seasiders.
Buffs ended the season with a 4-2 defeat at Petershill on Saturday.
Thomas Collins gave Buffs the lead but Dean McBride, Jordan Marshall and Del Hepburn struck for Peasy. Dylan Mackin pulled one back from the spot before Dom Morgan sealed it.
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