A visibly emotional Aaron Ramsey said he was "gutted" after his Cardiff City side were relegated.
"I'm gutted," he said after the match. "Obviously I'm a fan as well. It's sad to see this club going down. The fans have had a difficult time this season. I feel for them. I know how they are feeling. I want to say I'm proud of the last couple of performances. The level of information they've taken over such a short space of time was evident to see.
"We could have won on other days, but the reality is, we haven't been good enough over the course of the season, but we have to accept that.
"We need to have a bit of time to reflect and have a think about that, but from the last couple of weeks, giving these boys the opportunities they deserve and giving them that belief and new ideas. It was pretty evident to see the way these boys and the performances they are capable of doing.
"Confidence, as well, it's been a tough season. With confidence you are probably winning those games comfortably. We went to toe to toe with a really good team. They should be competing for play-off places and maybe even the top two, we can be proud of what we've shown in the last couple of games."
Ramsey says getting back up to the Championship at the first time of asking is "so important" and implored the board to get the right staff in place in order to give the club the best chance of bouncing back immediately.
"If the right structure is in place, with the coaching staff and things like that, these players will give you everything, like the last few games, two really positive performances," he added.
"With a good pre-season, fine tuning a few bits, the players will realise what to do without getting information on to them, they will already be adapted to that and can see things themselves, to really be proactive and change things.
"If they can do that and give them the opportunities they deserve, they are more than capable of coming straight back up. There is a lot of quality in that team. They should be competing at the top end of this league, never mind League One."
A lot of the fans' anger has largely been aimed at the lack of footballing knowledge at the club. The lack of a director of football, or equivalent, and dearth of people in full-time positions at the top end of the club running it from day to day has been a constant gripe for some time.
Asked specifically about the structure above the coaching staff and what his thoughts were on potential changes there, Ramsey replied: "Things are a little different to what I've experienced at other clubs. Normally you do have a head of football or a sporting director, things like that, who are overseeing everything, day-to-day operations and they are aligned with the club.
"But the biggest thing for me is making sure the right coaching staff is there, because they drive the right habits and create a culture, so that's the most important thing, making the right decision in that and trusting the right person with that to bring in the right people around them, who has the team's best interest at heart.
"That's half the battle, the rest can take care of itself."
The 34-year-old's own contract is up at the end of the season, although there is an option for another 12 months. He is out of action with a hamstring injury and is some months away from a return. He said he wants to digest what's happened now, spend time with the family and then decide what happens next.
But when asked if he would offer his view on who he thought should be the next Bluebirds boss, Ramsey said: "I know I care a lot about this club, so I'd be happy enough to be in those discussions. But we will see."
Ramsey concluded by giving a passionate and heartfelt thank you to the Bluebirds fans, who backed his side to the hilt during his two-match home tenure.
"I just want to say a massive thank you, it means a lot to me and a lot to the players," he added. "To see us reconnecting again, they played a part. I'm just gutted we didn't get to celebrate a win together in the last two games. They have been excellent.
"You show that level of intensity and work rate, they will back you all day long. They are going to be huge to get this club back to where it belongs."
West Brom caretaker manager James Morrison:
"I was pleased with the backline who defended well and put their bodies on the line.
"But I'm frustrated with that last bit. Feels that's the story of our season.
"I asked them to take that anger and frustration of the week into the game and I could sense that."
