Automatic promotion the target for Bradford City next time - Phil Parkinson

German-based investors Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp have completed a 100 per cent buyout of the club.

But before Parkinson can consider the future, he has to deal with the hurt caused by City’s play-off semi-final exit on Friday night that came as a devastating blow to the League One club.

City supporters are anguished, too, as the realisation hits home that a season with so much promise and potential is over.

Unlike those fans, however, Parkinson can do something about it and he admits that work has to get under way today.

“It was a quiet coach on the way back,” the 48-year-old told The Yorkshire Post in the wake of his side crashing out 4-2 on aggregate against Millwall.

“We worked so hard to get into the play-offs. But things went against us and we weren’t able to turn it round.

“The first leg was costly, especially the first half when we let in three goals.

“I take this disappointment and there is no doubt it will hurt for a while. But there is no time to feel sorry for yourself in football. You have to pick yourself up and be ready to go again.

“It will be a busy summer. We have to be on the ball because we need to quickly improve – and we will do that.

“Other teams will improve and we have to have that belief that we can get to that extra level and into the top two. That has to be the aim for next season.”

City’s success in finishing fifth and claiming a play-off place was earned on the back of an incredibly stingy defence.

The Bantams conceded just 40 goals in 46 league games, the second lowest tally in the third tier behind runners-up Burton Albion.

Ben Williams also kept a record 22 clean sheets to underline how hard Bradford were to break down as a team.

In attack, however, the picture was less rosy with City’s 55 goals being lower than all but five of their fellow League One clubs.

Tellingly, three of those were relegated and the others finished 17th and 19th.

City’s Achilles heel was evident in the second leg at The Den on Friday night when they lacked the attacking spark to regularly open up a solid Millwall backline.

Kyel Reid produced one piece of skill on the left to create Jamie Proctor’s equaliser just before half-time but it was the exception rather than the rule for a City side who were just too laborious and predictable in possession.

Parkinson’s challenge, therefore, is to bring more creativity to his squad over the summer and ensure the Bantams are well equipped to go one better next season.

“The gap (on second place) was five points,” said the Bantams manager.

“I don’t think it is massive, especially as we had a disappointing start. Everyone can look back at games that have been costly.

“But I don’t think there is a massive gap. Clearly, there are areas of the team we need to improve.

“If we can do that, we have a lot of quality out there. We have players who are ready to mount a challenge again next year.

“Add to that a bit of freshness in the squad and we will be ready to go again.

“We need that extra little bit of quality in the final third. We have to look at ways of improving in that area.

“If we get that, this time next year we might be watching the play-offs? Who knows?”

As well as addressing the need for more attacking threat next term, Parkinson will also have to fill the considerable holes left by departing loanees Josh Cullen, Reece Burke and Lee Evans.

West Ham United have already made it clear that if Cullen and Burke are to go out on loan again next season it will be to the Championship, meaning a duo who have played a big part in City’s season will have to be replaced.

That task starts now, as Parkinson concedes.

“The play-offs mean you finish a little bit after the rest but that won’t be a problem,” added the Bradford chief.