Duncan Ferguson has vowed to rip up his team and bounce back next season after his Forest Green Rovers side were relegated in his first job in management.

The former Rangers, Dundee United and Everton striker was appointed as boss back in January, but has managed just one win in 14 games and their inevitable relegation from English League One was confirmed with a 5-1 home hammering from Barnsley with four games still to play.

But the ex-Newcastle United and Scotland hitman insists he will put his own team on the park next season and toughen them up.

He said: "I'm really sad and disappointed for the fans. They are disappointed and I am disappointed. But we knew this day was coming for a long time.

"You feel for the owner, we managed to get up, to get straight back down is disappointing, we know it’s been on the cards but we wanted to keep believing.

“The players have got to be more aggressive in these duels, it’s not the size of the guy, it’s the fight that’s in him, and we haven’t got either at the moment. We get bullied.

"The score is heavy; you’re looking at 5-1 saying they’ve had a right doing, but when you break it down, it’s our Achilles heel of set-plays. Four goals from set-plays, that must be a world record.

"But that personnel in my dressing room won't be the same as the personnel I have next season. It's a big rebuild I need to do.

"It's going to be a tough summer and we will be starting from scratch next season."