CHAIRMAN Donald Findlay has called the Cowden community to come together at this time of crisis to meet what he believes is the greatest challenge of the past seven years.
The 2-1 aggregate defeat on Saturday at the hands of Queen’s Park saw the team plummet into Ladbrokes League 2 for the first time in seven years.
With no lucrative derbies this coming season it means income will be well down but the chairman feels that there is no room for dwelling on what has gone.
The club has to be prepared for the challenges that the 2016-2017 season will bring but that can only be achieved by the Cowden community working together.
He said this week: “A hollow victory against Queens Park brought to an end a bitterly disappointing season.
“I believed that we could make the Promotion Play-Offs but instead we find ourselves in the Second Division. I had hoped for progress but instead we have regressed.  
“There are several reasons for our failure, and failure it is, but not one of them will change the outcome and they may sound like excuses.  
“I offer no excuses, but I do accept full responsibility for the Club’s failure and I apologise unreservedly to all Cowdenbeath supporters and especially to the volunteers who give of their time and labours so generously.  They deserved better and I did not deliver it.”
He added: “Next season will confront us with the greatest challenge we have had to face in my time as chairman.  
“Crowds will inevitably be down, prize money is significantly reduced, we have increased travel costs and not even a local derby.
“It is up to others who leads the club.  However, Cowdenbeath is the town of my birth  and I come from a Cowdenbeath family who’s members did not quit in the face of adversity but fought against it with everything they could muster.  
“This football club has existed since 1881 and it is as much a part of Cowdenbeath as its mining heritage. 
“Such a history must not be betrayed.  I call on the town’s people and exiles, where ever they may be, if you have a place in your heart for Cowdenbeath and the Blue Brazil, rally to the cause of tackling the challenge which confronts us.
“We can, and we must, come together, regroup and with an even greater determination than before, start again and get us back to where we want to be.” 
Manager Colin Nish is ready for the challenge and has nailed his colours to the mast on the back page by saying he is desperate to be given the chance to lead the challenge to get back to the Ladbrokes League One.