The post-mortem has already begun on Banbury Bulls' wretched season in Midlands 2 East - with player-coach Grant Holmes admitting some home truths.

Banbury's relegation back to Midlands 3 East South was confirmed after Saturday's 13-3 home defeat to Matlock, but the writing had been on the wall for a while.

Bulls, who were promoted via a play-off last year, have won only two league games all season and both of these were against basement boys Melton Mowbray.

Holmes said: "We have learned a lot of lessons and certainly seen how big the step up from Midlands 3 to 2 is.

"We didn't go up in style last year - we lost six games and finished second.

"We didn't have a God-given right to have an easy run in Midlands 2.

"Not enough work went on in pre-season, which meant we were slightly underdone.

"Our biggest problems have been in the front five.

"The lineout and scrum have always been under pressure.

"All our front five players have got a lot of work to do in the summer or maybe we will have to look further afield to recruit replacements.

"A few of the youngsters have stepped up and done quite nicely, so there is some hope.

"We go back down and start getting our confidence back.

"I think we need to be fitter for next season."

Holmes has never really been able to field a settled side this season with many of the key players who took Banbury up often unavailable.

He added: "There was a rumour going round that there would be a restructure with only two teams going down, but nothing seems to have come of that.

"As far as we're concerned we are down and have got to use our remaining games to focus on next season.

"In November and December, we were lacking any confidence. Nobody even wanted to take the ball into contact.

"This has been my first season of coaching.

"It has been very difficult to come out and play as well.

"Ideally on a Saturday I would like to stand back and watch what's going on rather than worrying about my position."

Banbury are now a long way from the ambitious club that pushed for National League rugby in the late 1990s, but Holmes believes that this season shouldn't dampen their hopes too much.

"I certainly think Midlands 2 is where this club should aim to be," he said.

"I don't think we've got the funding or the resources to go higher.

"75 per cent of the squad are capable of playing at that level.

"A good front five and fly half is what we need more than anything."

  • Banbury host Saturday's Daily Mail Under 18 Schools Cup semi-final between holders Warwick School and Wellington College (11am).