Matt Bloomfield claims his Oxford United players have given everything in their unsuccessful fight to avoid relegation from the Championship.
Oxford's fate was already confirmed before they lost 2-0 at Millwall in their final game and Bloomfield took 25 points from his 21 games after taking over in January.
He thanked the players and told BBC Radio Oxford: "I think we were up against a very, very good team who showed in every element of their performance why they are where they are and why they have the chance of getting into the Premier League.
"I thought we were not at our best, but considering the surroundings of the game it was always going to be a difficult game for us and that proved to be true.
"Our supporters have been incredible. They are amazing group, we can all see how much pride they take in their football club, our guys are amazing, so a massive thank you to them.
"The players care a lot, they've given us everything I believe that over the last four months since I've been in the building, we're so terribly disappointed to come up short, but I don't think that's through a lack of effort.
"I think everyone's given it everything they've got and unfortunately for us we've not quite had enough to stay in the division."
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