RELEGATION from the UniBond League became a reality in the wake of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Osset, but officials say the campaign to build on the fighting spirit shown in the past few weeks has already started.

Key to that spirit was the appointment of the Peter Smith as manager and the spirit he engendered in the team almost pulled of a dramatic escape from relegation, writes Dennis Aris

Club spokesman John Warton said: "Everyone is hugely disappointed, but given the circumstances it was a brave effort to turn things round.

We are determined to build on the newfound spirit within the camp and keen to attract the backing of local businesses after the encouraging response from the town following our appeal for help in February.

"It is paramount that the club gets things right off the field and we will be looking to draw on the positive things from the season and install stability into the club."

A season, which started with high hopes after the appointment of Mick Hoyle as manager, soon collapsed as Hoyle's team, largely imported from his former club Fleetwood Freeport, failed to produce the goods on the field.

Mounting costs as more players were bought also took their toll and by February Kendal were managerless as Hoyle departed back to Fleetwood taking a large proportion of the Kendal team with him.

Others stayed loyal, however, including the dynamic Peter Smith and the winger's appointment as player-manager saw the team climb rapidly away from bottom place in the league.

The damage had already been done, however, and in the final push a bad run of four narrowly lost games left Smith's men with an impossible task.

Good news for Kendal was that manager Peter Smith yesterday (Thursday) pledged his future to the club.

"In my 18 games in charge nobody battered us, if we had been well beaten seven or eight times I would have thought twice about it, but we were always in there," he said.

"I will be talking to the lads after Saturday' s final game with Farsley and I will soon be seeing who is happy to stay with me."

He was optimistic, however, that the new spirit engendered since he took over will result in most of them staying.

"We have got a good squad, we have no bad eggs or back-biters now and we can build on that," said Smith.

Towards the end of the season his problem was a 14-man squad hit by injuries to influential midfielder Richard Close and Smith, himself a winger who can pose a threat to any side.

"Fossie (David Foster) played his heart out for the last four of five games, but needed another striker up there with him," said Smith adding that the difference could be seen on the occasions when Milnthorpe Corinthians' Craig Walmsley was available on loan to partner him.

Smith believes that the addition of four quality players to the existing squad plus use of the best lads in the reserves can create a side, which can do well in the North West Counties League and also stimulate interest in Kendal.

The drop into the lower division also gives Kendal a chance of a run in the FA Vase.

In the UniBond League they had to compete for the higher level FA Trophy.

Yet, realistically, Smith knows that both the Vase and North West Counties League will pose stern tests as the league is littered with ambitious and well-off teams who are prepared to spend to attain UniBond status.

For Smith's potential squad it will be a question of the living to a realistic budget, with the emphasis on playing for the club rather than the cash.

Chairman Dave Willan also plans to stand by the club into which he has ploughed so much support over the years.

"Relegation from the UniBond is not what we wanted, but we have been struggling for a few years," he said, adding that he was pleased that the manger, management team and most of the squad looked set to stay.

Meanwhile the club has its immediate sights set on rewarding the achievers of this year.

On Sunday a presentation evening will be held at The Park, starting at 6pm.