CHRIS Brookes tried his best to save Rossendale from the drop but admitted relegation was inevitable from the moment he took over.

The Stags’ 4-2 defeat at Runcorn and Alsager Town’s point against Formby condemned them to back-to-back relegations and an uncertain future.

Brookes, who spent five years at Dark Lane as a player, took over 14 games ago when Paul Colgan left the club.

Since then he has had to battle on with an understrength squad and off the field problems.

“We gave it a really good go, we really did but I think it was a little too late,” said the former Chorley player. “There are some good players at the club but we have been struggling to put out a full strength side and have been unable to bring in new players.

“I was always only going to be here for the rest of this season and I came back to help out because I like the club so much.

“It’s hard to say what will happen in the future because the club does have a few problems.

“But I really hope they can sort it all out and they can bounce straight back up next season.”

Dale, who had beaten Congleton Town 5-1 in midweek, showed a battling spirit to fight back from 3-0 down to 3-2 before a late own goal by Dominic Stockdale sealed their fate.

Runcorn led to 2-0 at the break thanks to a Paul Prescott penalty in the 24th minute and the first of two goals from Ross Lloyd on the half hour mark.

Lloyd added a second on 63 minutes before Dale mounted a fightback when Steve Burke scored his 14th goal in 14 games and Daryl Doolan headed in a second in the 74th minute.

But with Dale chasing an equal-iser a Lloyd cross hit Stockdale and ended up in the Dale net and relegation to the Vodkat League Division One was sealed.