Albion Rovers feeling "enormous pain" says boss, as Spartans relegate them to Lowland League

Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark admits he feels "enormous pain" after relegation to the Lowland League ended the club's 120-year stay in the senior ranks.

A 1-0 defeat to Spartans in the second leg of the Pyramid play-off final, losing 2-1 on aggregate, condemned Rovers to fifth tier football next season and fans were left in tears at the final whistle on a dark day for the Coatbridge club.

A Blair Henderson penalty in the first half was enough to relegate 10-man Rovers, who had captain Blair Malcolm sent off late on for violent conduct, and it means the Edinburgh side will now take their place in League Two next term.

Supporters crammed into Cliftonhill for the sell-out clash with some young fans climbing the walls to catch a glimpse of the most important game in the club's 141-year history.

But now they are facing up to the realisation of fifth tier football and boss Clark - who took over from sacked Brian Reid at the end of March - says it is painful for all involved with the Wee Rovers.

He sighed: "It's 120 years and it is a sore one for everyone connected to the club.

"I've been here seven weeks and I was here 10 years ago for a season as assistant, and you get to know the people and work with them, so you hope things go well.

"But now you feel the pain and I feel it enormously.

"I'm sure the supporters who have been supporting this club for a long time will feel it a lot more than me.

"I'm not apologising for it because that is football, but could we have done things better?

"I think some things went against us today that we've got to deal with better.

"It is fine lines in football so we need to pick ourselves up, settle down and plan ahead now."

Rovers were pushing hard for an equaliser and Joe Bevan was twice