Relegated Brackley rebuild 'starts now' - Whing

Andy Whing began his managerial career at Banbury United in 2020 [Getty Images]

Brackley Town boss Andy Whing says he is "more determined than ever" to make a success of his time at the club despite their relegation from the National League.

Their fate was confirmed, with two games still to play, by a 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United - their 11th in the 14 games since Whing was appointed.

Brackley were promoted as National League North champions last season, but remained part-time and Whing said that had contributed to the number of injuries in the squad since he took charge.

"The quality and the depth in the squad just hasn't been there. Obviously goalscoring has been a massive problem," he told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I've learnt a hell of a lot in the last few weeks, there's loads to build on, loads to do for next season and it starts now."

Former Barrow boss Whing was appointed following predecessor Gavin Cowan's move to League Two club Shrewsbury Town.

But he had to endure eight losses in a row before they finally picked up a point in a 1-1 draw with another of his former clubs, Solihull Moors.

"Brackley and Scunthorpe went up last season, but the difference is Scunthorpe are full time and a really big football club; I remember playing against them in the Championship, which shows where the club has been," he said.

"This football club have come from lower leagues and built their way up. There was a lot of learning coming into this division, whether that's recruitment, whether that's part-time/full-time.

"I had it a few years ago at Banbury (United), it was exactly the same. The intensity of the league above, especially in a full-time league, is really difficult."

Whing said despite their disappointment with results, the majority of supporters had been "brilliant" towards him.

And he believes Brackley will be better equipped to deal with the top tier of non-league football the next time they reach that level.

He added: "There's already stuff in motion for next season in terms of recruitment, in terms of what we want to do, a rebuild, a change of player profile to what we've got this season, so when we do come into this league we're not just hanging on - we want to be in this league to challenge, to go forward.

"Sometimes it takes that step back to go two steps forward and I'm more determined than ever.

"I looked at a Facebook post of me and family having dinner in Barrow, 13, 14 (games) unbeaten we'd gone in League Two and a year later I've dropped down two leagues. It just show how quickly football changes, but it also changes the other way."