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"It was not about today it was about the 45 games before. I take full responsibility for the relegation but we have been found wanting on ability. We were beaten by a very good side today but it was not today's result that relegated us, it was what went before.
"We have had so many chances to pull ourselves clear of trouble and I can't fault the effort and application of the players today, but we haven't got enough points to keep ourselves up. We haven't kept enough clean sheets and we haven't scored enough goals.
"I saw our fans get excited a couple of times and we wondered if the other scores were going for us, but we should not have been relying on other teams and other results, it all came down to what we did.
"I have 12 months left on my contract and I will sit down with the Chairman and see where we go. I feel very disappointed for the fans, particularly on the back of finishing ninth last season. The league table does not lie after 46 games and the responsibility stops with me.
"There are no excuses. We have failed over 46 games and that is hard to take, but we can bounce straight back from this. With the nucleus of the players we have under contract I am confident we can do that and with one or two additions I think we will have a decent side next season and I would like the opportunity to bring this club back up.
"We will sit down next week and discuss contracts with those lads who are out of contract. At the moment though this is one of the lowest points of my career. Too many one goal defeats has caught up with us and sent us down. The players are hurt, embarrassed and disappointed. What we have to do is bounce back next season. We will regroup and we will work hard to come back at the first attempt.
"I would like to say a huge thank you to the fans. They have spent a lot of time and money following us and we have not delivered this season. We have to put that right and bounce back first time next season."
Meanwhile Cobblers Chairman David Cardoza said :
"Of course I am hurt, angry, frustrated and disappointed, just like every supporter of this club. Mistakes have been made this season, and it is important we learn from those mistakes. We know that League Two will not be easy, we remember how difficult it was to get out of League Two last time, but it is our expectation and intention to bounce back at the first attempt.
"People rightly judge the success of a club by the performance of the first team, but off the field the club is currently in good health. We are seeing a number of commercial and marketing plans come to fruition, and despite the current climate we have secured a number of new commercial partners in recent times.
"Our Community work is held up by the Football League as an example to others and only last Thursday we had a very positive meeting with the Council about the re-development and I am sure we have made a breakthrough in that area.
"The relegation has not affected our determination to take the club forward in the long term. Of course relegation is a set-back, but I expect it to only be a temporary set back and we will come back stronger. Sitting around moping will not help us, we have to take relegation on the chin, have a full debrief and learn the lessons of this season, particularly learning from the mistakes that have been made.
"Stuart Gray will be given the chance to bring us back up next season, and work starts now to plan and strengthen the squad for the campaign ahead. I would like to thank everyone who has purchased a season ticket for next season. To do so while our status was not certain was a tremendous show of loyalty and I hope and expect to see that loyalty rewarded with a successful season next season, culminating with promotion back to League One in May."