HE may have signed off his captaincy with a heart-breaking play-off loss but Chris Cockton says Bolton will emerge stronger as they bid to go one better next season.

The Cherry and Whites were defeated 27-20 by West Park St Helens in the match to determine who would play in the North One West division next season.

Cockton returns to the ranks after five years as the club's on-field leader and the hooker accepts that his victorious final flourish just was not meant to be.

"It's not how I wanted to go out as captain, obviously," he said. "It is a difficult end but I have to say they were the better team on the day and we can have no arguments about them winning.

"I'd say we were very evenly matched all the way through the game and the lead changed hands a few times but they managed to get over the line at the end so all credit to them. It was a well-fought, passionate game, probably one of the best games I have ever played in. You can always wonder 'what if' but instead we'll look at the positives and go out looking to win the league next year."

Cockton's five-season spell as captain has not been without its ups and downs as that time has seen Bolton narrowly avoid relegation, win straight promotions, suffer relegation and this weekend miss out on a third promotion.

Reflecting on his tenure he retains a sense of pride in what he and his team mates accomplished on the field but is eager to once again be simply one of the lads.

"Without a doubt it's been a challenging five seasons, very draining, emotionally and physically," he added. "In the first season we toyed with relegation and then had back-to-back promotions, then suffered relegation and were very nearly promoted this year.

"I'm very proud of everything we have achieved, particularly our back-to-back promotions and getting the club to the highest level it's ever been at.

"For us to get to that level, hold our own and give a good account of ourselves was great, as was getting that recognition for rugby in Bolton, which is obviously a football town. I hope we have left our mark."