RUSS Penn says he’s excited for the future with Harriers despite a painful end to the season with defeat in the play-offs.

Penn saw his team fall at the first hurdle with a 2-1 reverse to Boston United at Aggborough Stadium.

It was a familiar feeling for Harriers fans in that regard, the side consigned to another season of National League North football.

But Penn spoke of a bright future for the club in the campaigns ahead – with the Reds boosted by his decision to sign and new contract at Aggborough earlier in the week.

He insists his side must be motivated by their disappointment and build on a season that saw them reach the FA Cup Fourth Round in addition to the play-offs.

He explained: "If this is a sign of the things to come in the next two to three years, with me and Jim at the helm, then I am really looking forward to that.

"You have to take the highs with the lows in football and, unfortunately, tonight is a low.

"It's not a nice feeling and I think this will give us the bouncebackability going into the seasons ahead."

While Harriers will benefit from the stability of having Penn and a large portion of the squad under contract for next season, the boss himself admitted there will be changes this summer as the group look to better their fourth placed finish.

It came after a lacklustre showing against an energised Boston, who took the lead at the end of the first half through Danny Elliott’s close-range finish.

The home side drew level through Ashley Hemming’s 18th goal of the campaign, but a costly own goal from the head of Alex Penny stopped their momentum in its tracks.

Boston moved on in the play-offs while Harriers were left to reflect.

Penn conceded: "The performance in the first half was nowhere near it and we deserved to be 1-0 down.

"After 60, 65 minutes we started to get a real foot-hold in the game and when we scored [I thought] 'there's only one winner here.'

"As has happened a few times this season, every time we're on top, we have that vulnerability to concede as well.

"We did concede a terrible, terrible goal from our point of view and it knocked the wind out of everyone's sails.

"We huffed and puffed and gave absolutely everything... it just wasn't enough tonight unfortunately."