Paul Tisdale reflected on Exeter City's achievement this season and claimed the foundations have been laid for the Grecians to prosper in Coca-Cola League One next season.

Goals from their inspirational skipper Matt Taylor and playmaker Ryan Harley helped City to a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town, which ensured Exeter kept their place in League One for next season.

"We have come a long way and looking at the bigger picture, it gives us the chance to build again. We have made such good progress and we are in a new cycle," Tisdale said.

"We have found it really difficult in League One, but we have played our football and haven't changed our philosophy. The cycle is changing and we are building a new team, and maintaining our status really gives us a chance to build on what's been happening over the last six months.

"I am delighted, I am relieved and I am excited, but above all, I am very proud to be part of this football club."

City certainly did it the hard was as they fell behind to a Gary Roberts goal inside two minutes. But the Grecians did not panic and the winning goal came eight minutes from time.

"It was a near thing, but it's a relief. To leave it late on the last day of the season is a little too close for comfort, but we have made it and we have had a great season," Tisdale added.

"I can now look back on it and enjoy every minute. It has been a great experience for me in League One and we have achieved today what we achieved on the last day of last year when we achieved League One status for next year.

"We have done it here at St James' Park and it is the first time we have been able to do that in three or four years, so it is very sweet."

Now though, Tisdale must decide who to keep and who to let go for next season. Those decisions are likely to be made this week with Tisdale adding: "I have a very important week now. It is this time of year where I have to take emotion aside and all the players I have been hugging and kissing in the dressing room, I have to decide which ones don't stay.

"That's the nasty bit of what has happened. I have kissed and hugged players who probably won't be with us and I have some tough decisions to make.

"There were about 40 people in the dressing room afterwards and I said to them this is probably the last time we will all be together, because at the start of next year people will have moved. I get sad when it gets to the last game because those people won't be together again. We have been together virtually every day and travelled thousands of miles together. We have suffered all sorts of disappointment, experienced excitement and lots of bad weather and lots of running in mud."

Tisdale also paid tribute to the cracking atmosphere inside the Park on Saturday and felt the supporters had more than played their part in keeping City up.

"We are a club where the supporters own the club and I don't think there is another club in the country that respects its supporters as much as we do, so I am delighted for them.

"We have only lost one game in the last 13, which I think is a huge effort. It has been a huge effort from everyone and that includes the supporters.

"We have travelled to away games and the supporters have been there in their hundreds to clap us off the coach. It has been a huge club effort and I don't mean that lightly. I am very proud to be a part of it.

"The players gave everything, the support was wonderful and I hope they remember what they did because it is a wonderful place to play football when the supporters are like that."