LONDON Welsh’s relegation – seemingly inevitable for the past month – was confirmed when they lost to play-off chasers Northampton Saints at the Kassam Stadium yesterday.

Sale’s convincing victory over Gloucester on Friday night meant that the Exiles had to win their last three games to extend their stay in English club rugby’s top flight beyond one season.

But on the day that news emerged that their majority shareholder, Kelvin Bryon, was to stop funding the club, Welsh never looked like ending their depressing winless run, which stretches back to 2012.

The home side battled hard and deserved their two tries, but Saints, with some incisive running from their backs, achieved their objective of a fourth try in the closing minutes.

The fact that they had to wait so long to collect their bonus point reflects a great credit on the Welsh, whose heads never went down on a day of double bad news for the club.

Skipper Jon Mills pulled out on the morning of the match with a hip problem. The switch came so late that his replacement Matt Corker had to wear the skipper’s shirt – and a he performed very well in it, in front of their third highest home gate of the season.

The first half-hour was dire. Northampton had the better of the territorial battle and moved 6-0 ahead with two penalties in the first six minutes from fly-half Steve Nyler.

Exiles had their moments, like a break-out led by James Lewis, who was on as a replacement for the injured centre Seb Jewell, but it came to nothing.

At the other end, winger Seb Stebmann put in a great tackle to deny his opposite number Jamie Elliott.

Against the run of play it was the hosts who scored the first try.

Centre Sonny Parker intercepted Myler’s pass and raced clear. He was never going to get their on his own, but found Nick Scott in support and the winger dived in under the posts.

Skipper for the day, Gordon Ross, added the conversion.

So the Welsh were 7-6 ahead ten minutes before the break and some supporters were starting to dream of a home victory.

But they were soon brought back to reality with a fierce response from Northampton, who regained the lead with a third penalty from Myler.

But the hammer blows for Welsh were provided by Northampton’s replacement centre Tom May, who scored two tries in as many minutes.

On for the injured George Pisi, May first finished off a slick handling move to score in the corner, and then went over following a searing break through the home defence.

Myler missed both conversions, but Northampton were a commanding 19-7 ahead at half-time.

Five minutes after the break, Northampton stretched their lead.

Luther Burrell, a constant threat, received a pass from robust prop Brian Mujati to go over in the corner.

Much of the second half was disrupted by interminable substitutions, but Welsh took advantage when Northampton’s replacement prop Alex Waller was yellow-carded for an off-the ball incident with Ross.

Welsh forwards took charge of the scrum, after after three times being denied by fouls close to the Saints line, No 8 Daniel Browne burrowed over for a pushover try.

Ross added the conversion, but was then sin-binned himself for lashing out with the boot.

Northampton had the final say when Burrell nipped over for their fourth try, converted by replacement Ryan Lamb.

The Exiles, despite another battling show, knew their relegation fated had been sealed.

London Welsh: Arscott, Stegmann, Parker, Jewell (Lewis 12), Scott, Ross, Davies (R Lewis 60), Bristow (Joly 76), Bateman (George 76), Ion (Tideswell 60), Corker, Kulemin (Voiyce 78), Cabello, Hills (Brown 76), Browne (Balding 72).
Northampton: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi (May 19), Burrell, Elliot; Myler  Lamb 65), Dickson (Roberts 59), Tonga'uiha (Waller 59), Hartley (capt) (Haywood 71), Mujati (Doran-Jones 54), Lawes, Day (Tonga'uiha 77-87),, Wood, Dowson (Clark 54), Manoa (Van Velze 59).
Attendance: 5,621
Referee: G Garner (RFU).
Man-of-match: L Burrell (Northampton).