Mark Regan column: We'll come back stronger next season

Mark Regan column: Saturday was obviously a very sad day for Bristol Rugby, but there is a great sense of optimism around the place at the moment.

The pressure is off now, and we all knew that staying up, after the start we made to the season, was a tall order.

We made too mistakes at the beginning of the season and the league does not lie: we have been the worst performing team in the Guinness Premiership.

The club has gone down, but Paul Hull has been preparing for all eventualities over the past couple of months. He is in war mode and he has made signings on the playing front, as well as getting his coaching team in place.

Paul and the club have stated their ambitions to come straight back up – and there is no doubt Bristol are in a much better position now than six years ago.

The club had to be rebuilt from scratch then, but Hully has already got the foundations in place to mount a title challenge this time.

He is already working on things for pre-season – and I hear the boys will be back in for training on June 1. I will just be going out to grazing on the paddock then, and I am already making plans for the next stage of my life.

I am not thinking about my retirement just yet, though, because there are still two games left to play this season.

And I have managed to get out of the Injured Player Group after being passed fit earlier this week. That means I will be back in training with the rest of the squad on Monday – and will be up for selection for the Wasps game.

I would absolutely love to play in that game, which would be my final appearance for Bristol at the Memorial Stadium. It would mean a lot to me to be selected for that game and to say a proper goodbye to the Memorial Stadium. It would no doubt be an emotional occasion.