PONTYPOOL have pledged to fight their way back to the Principality Premiership with SSE Swalec Championship crowns to their name after suffering promotion heartbreak.

Costly defeats to RGC 1404 and Bargoed in April left Pooler needing results to go their way if they were to claim the fourth and final promotion spot for the Principality Premiership, which is ring-fenced for three seasons.

Alas, the north Walians successfully avoided a banana skin at Cardiff Met and then fought to a 19-7 victory at Glynneath to finish the season with 96 points to Pontypool's 94.

It leaves the Gwent side, who last week announced the departure of head coach Louie Tonkin with Leighton Jones promoted from forwards coach to the hotseat, frustratedly looking on from the outside until 2020 at the earliest.

But they have pledged to follow the lead of Ebbw Vale, who won two Division One East titles and two Championship crowns before returning to the Premiership in style in 2014.

"Naturally, we are all saddened that we will not be joining the 16 teams in the Principality Premiership next season but I am exceptionally proud of how everybody at our rugby club has responded to the disappointment," wrote chief executive Ben Jeffreys in an open letter to Pontypool supporters on the club website.

"Our newly appointed head coach, Leighton Jones - together with the ever-loyal (team manager) Shaun Rees and (physio) Emily Buckley - have done a tremendous job of galvanising everybody within the club this past week.

"As a result of their efforts, I am delighted to share that the club has retained over 90 per cent of the current playing squad for next season.

"This reflects just what a fantastic group of people we have representing Pontypool RFC on a daily basis. From the staff to the squad to the volunteers, the club has a family-like environment that simply cannot be replicated and we will not be defined by this current setback.

"So this is our pledge to you - the Pooler faithful. We are here to fight. We are here to win.

"We will do everything in our power to claim the SSE Swalec Championship title for as many seasons as it takes to earn our place in the Principality Premiership the right way.

"My father, Peter, and me, are here for the fight. Our head coach is here for the fight. Our management team is here for the fight. Our medical team is here for the fight. Our squad is here for the fight. Our volunteers are here for the fight.

"We simply ask that you will stay with us, together, for the fight.

"The future is bright for Pontypool RFC and I have every confidence that we will look back on this experience with huge positivity."

Chairman and owner Peter Jeffreys committed to continuing to back the club before the losses to RGC and Bargoed.