BOSS Morgan Stoddart believes tight-knit Cross Keys have foundations to push on after the dark days of last summer, writes Chris Kirwan.
The Pandy Park side will play Championship rugby in 2020/21, earning that right through their own form rather than the early ending to the season because of coronavirus.
At the end of last year Keys, who dropped out of the Premiership last season, looked sure to be in another relegation scrap.
Money problems had played their part in finishing 14th after 12 league losses on the spin and their plight led to a mass exodus of players.
Head coach Stoddart, who joined the club as an assistant in 2013 and succeeded Greg Woods in January 2018, stayed to start the rebuilding process but things were tough in the opening months.
They lost their first five Championship fixtures before Tata Steel were edged out on October 19.
In December things started to click and Keys started their climb up the table with back-to-back wins against Trebanos and Ystrad Rhondda.
When Keys beat Ystalyfera in their final fixture before the coronavirus suspension they climbed to seventh in the table.
"Since December we knuckled down and picked up wins, with seven out of ten," said former Wales full-back Stoddart.
"That is decent from the position that we were in, because it was looking grim at one stage, but as a group we always believed that we could pull through by working hard and sticking together.
"It was difficult getting relegated and being left with a few players but we have rebuilt the squad. Results show that it did take time but we've got together and regrouped."
It would have been easy for Stoddart to jack it in when things were crumbling at Pandy Park but the eight-times capped Wales international, who had to retire in 2013 after failing to recover from a broken leg suffered at Twickenham, stuck it out.
"At the beginning of the season I was hating it to be honest! But I still had the belief that we could pull through and that's proved to be right," he said.
"I really enjoyed the last few months and the boys worked so hard in training to improve individually and as a team.
"Results came from that hard work and we have grown as a team after having to rebuild from almost nothing.
"We will be in a lot better shape and we will try to start off like we have played in the last few months."
It has been a testing year for Keys, who have not only had to rebuild on the pitch.
Storm Dennis led to their Pandy Park home being flooded and now club officials will have to prepare for a loss of income because of match cancellations.
Stoddart said: "It's been really difficult, the worst season that I have known for weather. The amount of rain we've had is ridiculous and we've done ok to get 17 games played.
"Then the virus came from nowhere to ruin the season and it's a difficult time for the club, but fingers crossed we will be alright."
Stoddart pulled in a few favours to ensure his squad had a night to remember when conducting their end of season awards night from their own homes.
Jonathan 'Jiffy' Davies, Lee Byrne, Andy Powell and Angus O'Brien recorded videos to announce the winners.
Prop Jordan Rogers was named player of the year, flanker Joe Thomas won the players' player award, Corey Nicholls was leading try scorer and David Glastonbury named as clubman of the year.
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