Edgar Davids believes his Barnet players “gave everything” in the battle to avoid relegation from the Football League. Unfortunately for the Bees it wasn’t enough.

Barnet travelled to Northampton Town knowing a win would keep them in League Two. The Bees lost 2-0. That was compounded by AFC Wimbledon’s 2-1 victory at home to Fleetwood Town.

The two results sent Barnet down; painfully it came down to goal difference. The Bees ended the campaign on 51 points – the highest tally a relegated side has achieved in League Two.

Davids said after the defeat: “I’m aware of the consequences (of relegation) but we did all that we could and gave everything we had. All of the players can look themselves in the eye and know they did everything but sometimes that is not enough.”

The Dutchman added: “I think the players are more disappointed than the fans and there are definitely consequences for players.”

Goals from Roy O’Donovan and Luke Guttridge were enough to secure a 2-0 victory for the Cobblers at Sixfields.

“Northampton were sharp and they didn’t squander their opportunities, they were clinical,” Davids said.

“I think that the difference is that you have to take your chances. If you are not sharp then you see what can happen.”

He added: “It is definitely a bitter pill to swallow. I look back on it and the team reached all the objectives the chairman set for me.

“We played attractive football, had young players coming in from the Academy and we got 51 points but have still gone down.”

When asked if relegation was one of Davids most disappointing days in football, he replied: “No, why should it be? It is what it is. I think that losing a Champions League final is also something to think about.”

The Dutchman’s future at the club remains unclear and when pressed on whether he would like to remain at Barnet, Davids answered: “I have to sit down with the chairman and evaluate a lot of things and then we will go from there.

“I do not see why not (staying at the club) but you also have to be realistic at times.”