BROMSGROVE Rovers manager Jimmy Mullen has pledged to build a team that will avoid the tension of the play-offs - by finishing in an automatic promotion spot next season.

The manager saw his side suffer heartache in the Southern League Division One West play-off final on Saturday, when Evesham United beat them 4-0 to go up.

With a traumatic season over and another in the Division One West to contemplate, the Rovers boss has already set himself the target of a top two finish in the 2005/2006 season.

He said: "I want to build a squad which will get us into the top two and see us win promotion automatically.

"The play-offs are great to be in, but I'd rather win the division or come second than go through that again."

Mullen is set to sit down with assistant manager Bernard Mackey this week to plan for next season.

One of the burning issues they will have to deal with is building a squad capable of automatic promotion.

The manager will have to find a solution to problems that have plagued his side during the 2004/2005 season.

Rovers were inconsistent all season and struggled to score goals - relying on top scorer Paul Szewczyk.

However, it is still unclear what funds chairman Tom Herbert will release to the management team so they can improve the squad.

Mullen said: "Bernard and I will sit down this week and plan where we go next for Rovers. There's no rush, we have plenty of time.

"How much money we have at our disposal all depends on the chairman and I need to speak with him about that."

One area that Mullen will urgently need to bolster is goalkeeping, after first choice Matt Lowe announced his retirement before Saturday's defeat to Evesham.

Lowe said: "I think it's time I retired. I have other commitments I need to concentrate on."

The 31-year-old has made 132 appearances in all competitions for Rovers.

Mullen admitted to the Advertiser/Messenger he was shocked by his side's poor performance against Evesham.

He said: "That performance was, quite honestly, an absolute shambles.

"At half time we told the players that they'd given Evesham both goals, they hadn't done anything to deserve them.

"We gave away too many free-kicks and they punished us.

"I felt for the fans because they were absolutely magnificent for us throughout the game.

"By the end of the match I was distraught, I didn't know what to say to anyone.

"I believed this was our day to shine and the players produced probably their worst performance of the season."