Exeter set for 'drastic' squad cuts after relegation

"The six loans go back naturally, and we wish them all the best and thank them for their service, but there are players who will unfortunately leave us who, in a different moment in time, we would have liked to keep."

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Relegation to the fourth tier will see a drop in broadcast income and other revenues for the club next season.

Exeter also need to find a new permanent manager, with Taylor in temporary charge since March after Gary Caldwell left to take over at Wigan Athletic.

The search will be made harder with the club playing in the fourth tier, although Taylor has not ruled out putting himself forward for consideration for the role.

He led Exeter to promotion four years ago before going on to have stints at Rotherham United and Bristol City.

Taylor said his overriding emotion was one of sadness at being unable to keep City in the third tier for a fifth successive year.

"I'm devastated. It's gutting, every emotion you expect. That's what comes with relegation and the run of form we've been on for too long a period of time.

"We were short today against a very well-drilled, very strong, experienced opposition and it felt like we were chasing that from the first 10 minutes of the game," he added.

"The whole week and the whole prep has been about a certain type of feeling, a certain type of start to the game - we never once got them on the back foot.

"It was ourselves on the back foot and maybe that played a part in our use of the ball which was as worse as it's been.

"Pressure does things to you as a player, as a human being and I think we certainly felt that."