CAPTAIN Graham Dorrans admitted that he was almost lost for words after Athletic’s relegation – and cast doubt over his future at the club.
The experienced midfielder was honest enough to say that he and his team-mates hadn’t performed well enough throughout a desperate season that has ended with Dunfermline returning to League One for the first time in six years.
Understandably, the 35-year-old former Scotland international cut a downbeat and subdued figure when he spoke after the defeat to Queen’s Park in the Championship play-off semi-final.
Signed by Peter Grant, who he worked with during his seven-year spell with West Bromwich Albion, last summer, Dorrans played 23 times in all competitions during a season disrupted by spells on the sidelines.
He made his first start since the beginning of March in last Wednesday’s first leg against the Spiders, before featuring again on Saturday, and was forthright in his assessment of the season.
Dorrans is under contract for next season and is set for talks for current boss John Hughes as to whether he’ll be part of next season’s push to bounce back from League One.
“Yes, I’m under contract, but we will sit down over the next couple of weeks, speak to the gaffer, speak to the club, and see what’s going on,” he said.
“League One is going to be a tough league; there are some decent teams in there already. Two teams going down from the Championship means it’s going to be a tough league.
“At the minute, it is too raw to be looking ahead to next season.
“The boys are devastated in there. We have to let it sink in and speak to the gaffer, speak to the club.
“We will have our meetings in the next couple of weeks and, whatever happens from there, we shall see.”
Being relegated was not on Dorrans’ agenda when he arrived at East End – the pre-season hope was of a title challenge – but he agreed that losing their Championship place was not down solely to the play-off tie.
“Definitely not, it has not been lost today,” he continued.
“The sending-off today didn’t help us but, over the course of the season, we are where we are for a reason. Put simply, we have not been good enough and we have found ourselves in this position.
“It is never easy when you get relegated with a football club. It is very raw at the minute; as I say everyone in there is devastated. Nobody ever likes losing a game and nobody likes going down at the end of the season. I don’t know what else I can say to you other than that.
“Of course, I came here to try and get promoted but, as I said there, over the course of the 36 games this season, we are where we are for a reason. It is not because of lack of effort. We have just not been good enough, it is as simple as that.
“We had a little chance to save it, but it was not to be, and we have found ourselves getting relegated.
“It’s not a nice one to take.”
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