Blackburn manager Steve Kean came out fighting after suffering relegation from the Premier League.
Blackburn boss expects to sit down with owners and form a plan
Despite Blackburn suffering their worst night in more than a decade, manager Steve Kean came out fighting after the devastation of Premier League relegation and vowed to be back in the top flight.
The Ewood Park club on Monday night were condemned to the drop after losing 1-0 at home to Wigan, who secured their survival courtesy of Antolin Alcaraz's 87th minute header.
It was a horrible evening for Kean, who was the target of almost non-stop protests from fans as the match took on almost a secondary role, and it remains to be seen if he has the backing of the club's owners, Venky's.
But the Scot hailed the performance of his players, at the same time as admitting the dressing room was at an all-time low following relegation of the club for the first time since 1999, and insisted they would return to the Premier League.
"We're devastated. The players are numb, because we felt as though we did a very good job tonight," manager Kean told
Sky Sports 1HD.
Disappointing
"Certainly in the second half, we made enough chances, and we had a very good shout for a penalty with Junior Hoilett.
"The fact we didn't get a result and take it to the last game is massively disappointing, it's a great setback for the club.
"I think you could see up until the last second the lads were giving everything, they've given a big, big effort to take it to the last day as we did last season.
"You can never fault the players' effort. We've got a very young side.
"We've lost a lot of experience and for the future we're going to have a backbone of young Academy players that'll stand the club proud.
Experience
"It's difficult for them, because they've never experienced a feeling like in that dressing room now."
Blackburn still have one game to play and will take on Chelsea on the final day of the season, and Kean hopes to be able to keep as many of his players as he can in a bid to immediately bounce back from the Championship next season.
"We've got to keep as many players together as possible, a little like West Ham have done, and add a little more experience and then we can bounce back," Kean said.
"We'll be back to fight another day."
Asked if he had discussed his future with the club's owners, Kean also said: "I have spoken with the owners, like I do every day.
"We haven't mentioned what has happened tonight, but I am confident we will have a sit down and have a plan in place as quickly as possible.
"I am not going to walk away."
