IT was supposed to be the season when Bromsgrove Rovers secured promotion to the Dr Martens Premier.

In the end it turned into a disappointing anti-climax with Rovers, who knew their ninth place fate before last Saturday's fixtures, watching other teams take a coveted top seven spot.

In effect, they have been relegated, or at least set themselves back 12 months in their dream for a Conference return.

At the start of next season another tier will be added to the non-league pyramid below the existing Conference but, instead of staying at the same level by moving up to the Premier, Rovers will stay in the Dr Martens Western or euqivalent and go down a level.

So where did it all go wrong?

A club of Rovers' stature should be able to nail down a top seven place but they don't have a divine right to success.

Yet second in the Midland Alliance and third in the Western represents sucess in its own right and the chance should have been given to build on it.

Chairman Tom Herbert admitted at last Saturday's presentation night he had made mistakes with managers and he should be applauded for his honesty. Yet perhaps the biggest mistake was letting Gary Hackett and Jon Ford go.

Things are always easier with hindsight but Rovers' plight stems from their departure.

It's a simple truth and the facts support it. Rovers have amassed 17 points less this season than last, from two less games, and are six places worse off. The manager brought in to improve on that commendable success has since jumped ship and it's worth bearing in mind that without the luxury of a top seven spot to play for, the season would have ended much earlier.

After just 26 games in charge Hackett and Ford finished second in the Alliance, securing promotion.

They then led the Western for a large part of last season before dropping off but still finishing a highly creditable third, an achievement that looks even better given the current situation.

OK, Hackett and Ford have not set the world alight at Stourbridge but they did take Rovers mighty close to the Premier last season and deserved the chance to try again.

By keeping faith, Rovers would have ensured stability - only four players who started last season's final game played against Mangotsfield ten days ago - and Rovers could surely have done no worse this year with the duo at the helm.

After George Rooney left Steve Pope tried to salvage the season but six games gave him little chance.

Ironically, the man charged with restoring confidence, Joe Jackson, is the man Hackett and Ford replaced at Stourbridge.

And Jackson will be virtually forced into winning the promotion Rovers so crave next season just to get their Conference plan back on track.

But it's a plan that would arguably still be on target had Hackett and Ford remained.

It's the old adage - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.