Colin Slater says Notts County's "dream has died" after watching them suffer relegation to the National League on Saturday.
Slater, Fourteen minutes of a hope a cruel final twist for Notts County fans , saw their 131-year Football League status stripped from them after a 3-1 defeat at Swindon Town.
Notts needed to win and hope Macclesfield Town lost to Cambridge United at Moss Rose, and Kane Hemmings had Notts on their way to survival after his penalty seven minutes into the second half broke the deadlock with Cambridge ahead.
But Swindon roared back with three goals and an equaliser for Macclesfield consigned Notts to relegation from the League for the first time in their history.
And Slater blasted Notts' relegation, calling it the "saddest" day he has known in all his years following the Meadow Lane club, warning that the squad needs significant improvement to compete next season.
"For a little period, after Hemmings converted the penalty, we were so-to-speak in dreamland, not just in the directors' box but the well over 2,000 fans that travelled," he said.
"Were Notts going to pull it off after all?
"Generally Notts didn't have enough firepower to secure a second goal and at the other end they became more and more porous looking for a second goal, creating gaps at the back and in the end Notts were well beaten.
Fourteen minutes of a hope a cruel final twist for Notts County fans
"And, at six-minutes-to-five, the dream finally died.
"But no competition is won or lost in one game and the problems of this season go right back to the beginning of this campaign.
"In August, when Notts drew one and lost four in the league.
"And then in September, and they didn't win a league game until the very last one in September.
"And then the writing was on the wall.
"A grim season was in prospect, Neal Ardley apologises to Notts County fans following relegation to National League ."
While reflecting on a heartbreaking campaign for Notts, Slater looked ahead to next season, with Dover and Boreham Wood awaiting Neal Ardley's side.
National League football is an entirely different prospect to the competition of the Football League - and there is work to be done to get the squad ready for it.
Neal Ardley apologises to Notts County fans following relegation to National League
"I fell that this is, beyond question, the saddest day I have known following Notts home, away and abroad as well - in the halcyon days when they were playing in Italy in the Anglo-Italian Cup," he added.
"There's a lot of sadness and grief around, and Notts have a big job to do next season .
"Performances throughout the season tell me Notts lack firepower up front and they are far too vulnerable at the back.
"There is a big, big job to be done in strengthening a side that, as it stands, will not be good enough to compete effectively in the National League."
