Midfielder Lewis Spence says the mentality needs to change as United look for a much better season in 2021-22.
Speaking after a 1-0 home defeat to Stevenage on the final day which he felt typified 22nd-placed Scunthorpe's 2020-21 League Two campaign, the Scot told iFollow Iron: "We were really poor, with no creativity and it was a bad goal to lose the game to with a cross into the box. That game summed up our season really.
"The only positive we will take is that we're still in the league (after not winning in the final ten games). I don't know how we've done it to be honest, because we have been really poor.
"We'll have another go at it next season and need to get better as a team and a club."
The 25-year-old signed last summer and made 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring in the 3-1 home victory over Harrogate Town.
"Obviously I've enjoyed the playing time but not where we are in the league and some of the games (in terms of how they went)," he added.
"Everybody needs to get better next season, myself included. We must show a lot more. There have been glimpses where we've been okay and gone on a couple of good runs, but overall it's not been good enough.
"When we come back next season, the mentality needs to improve. It's been too easy and it needs to change. There will be boys leaving and also new players coming in. Hopefully the ones that come in can bring more quality and help push us forward."
After a packed and condensed campaign that started a month later than normal and saw 18 League Two midweek fixtures, Spence is looking forward to resetting now before the return to pre-season training.
He added: "It's felt like a long hard season, with no fans, all the Covid restrictions, and the way things have gone but it's time to break away now, and try to have as good a summer as possible before getting down to the hard work in pre-season.
"We need to try and be positive (in the approach). Hopefully next season the fans will be back and they can help drive us on."
See much more from Lewis Spence on iFollow Iron.