Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway says he is “devastated” his side have missed out on the League Two play-offs following their 2-1 home defeat by Chesterfield.
A win for the Robins on the final day would have guaranteed a play-off spot but Dilan Markanday’s goal just after the hour mark for the Spireites meant they ended sixth while Holloway’s men finished the season in ninth after Barnet beat Harrogate.
Holloway, 63, was sat in the stands at the County Ground on Saturday as he served the first game of a two-match touchline ban – his second such ban in as many months.
“I can only apologise to the Swindon fans here – in their voice, I was cheering with them,” Holloway told BBC Radio Wiltshere.
“We promised so much and delivered nothing in the end. I think the second [transfer] window killed us, the loss of Fin [Munroe – who returned to parent club Middlesbrough in January] – and the injuries after that.
“I can’t say how bitterly disappointed I am. It’s been coming, we’ve been getting gradually worse since that window. I am devastated.
“I am disappointed I haven’t made the group what I wanted them to be.”
Town were top of League Two in mid-November and resided in the play-off places all season until the 4-0 defeat by Grimsby Town eight days ago.
A third defeat in four games on Saturday was enough for Holloway to keep his players and coaching staff inside the dressing room for approximately two hours after the full-time whistle, eventually carrying out his duties with the press just after 19:00 BST.
He added: “I feel like I’ve let everybody down because I wanted the group to lead the group. I wanted the senior ones to encourage the other ones but it wasn’t enough.
“This has been a failure to bond and get the balance right with who we’ve had and who we’ve lost, and who I’ve picked and why I’ve picked them.
“Five people that can defend corners – I haven’t been able to do that [select them] for weeks. It’s not an excuse, it’s [a] fact.”