HEAD coach Ross Baxter has said Bromsgrove have already begun plans for the 2014-15 season after their relegation from the National Two North was confirmed at the weekend.

Saturday’s 24-14 home defeat made it mathematically impossible for the Boars to avoid the fall into the National Three Midlands.

The Finstall Park side had enjoyed three seasons at their highest ever level, but a failure to replace departing players with experienced campaigners saw them pay the price.

But in the last few weeks, Baxter and his coaching staff have already begun blooding younger players with a view to next season.

He said: “We’ve had a look at younger lads and it has been encouraging.

“The National North is a difficult league to blood younger players, but the Midlands will be a better environment to introduce them.

“There is less travelling, fewer games and the competition is less intense.

“We definitely think we are ahead of the curve in terms of preparing for next season.”

Bromsgrove put in another promising display against Sedgley Park, with the result in the balance until the away side scored the decisive try late on.

Baxter said: “I cannot fault the players in terms of effort, they have given 100 per cent – a lot of teams would have given up a lot earlier than we have, and that’s a credit to them.

“Our big issue remains a lack of cutting edge, and it is something that we have to address for next year.”

Bromsgrove have four games of the season left, starting with a trip to fourth-placed Chester on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

That is followed by home clashes with Leicester Lions, Otley and a trip to Stourbridge.

Bromsgrove have only won six of their 26 matches this season.

“We’ve played the fourth and fifth ranked teams in recent weeks and did well,” added Baxter.