Rob Dengate is determined to help Sheppey Rugby Club return to London 3 South East.

The Islanders ended the season with a heavy defeat at Ashford on Saturday and have been relegated to Kent 1.

Head coach Dengate said: “We’ve taken a step back but we will regroup and rebuild in what will be a less competitive division and hopefully we can come straight back up, that’s the plan.

“I am confident we can turn it around and we’ve got the players to do it. We’ve got to dust ourselves off and look forward to the future. We can’t dwell on this and have to do something about it.

“Pre-season will start early this year and we need to work on being stronger.

“We’ll have two or three ways of playing, depending on the opposition and the weather but we’ve not been able to implement them this season because we need to develop these things in training.”

Commitment is a key area that Dengate will be looking to improve.

He said: “The attitude to training and to the club had to be right.

“If we could change those around, then we would definitely be a top-half London 3 South East side.

“We just need to change that ethos and be more professional. We want players there on Tuesdays and Thursdays at training and being more committed.”

Dengate is confident that he has players already at the club that can be a success.

He said: “There are definite signs that we can improve, as long as the players want to turn it around.

“If they just want it to be a social side, then that’s what it will be but I am sure the club has bigger goals than that.

“Let’s regroup, come back in July and hit it hard, ready for the start of next season in September.”