Phil Parkinson believes the promotion of Rotherham is no bad thing as City look to replicate their Yorkshire rivals next term.

Controversial Millers boss Steve Evans has become a hate figure for City supporters following his spell at Crawley before moving to Rotherham in 2012.

The rivalry between Evans and the Bantams continued when he guided United to automatic promotion from League Two 12 months ago, before steering the club into the Championship via a dramatic penalty shoot-out play-off final win over Leyton Orient.

Rotherham, backed by the wealth of ambitious chairman Tony Stewart, have spent big in their pursuit of success.

City boss Parkinson said: “Rotherham have now gone up, which has taken a derby out of the equation for next season.

“As much as they are our rivals, with the budget and the money they have, you always know they will be a threat because they have a bigger spending power that most other teams in the division.

“Therefore it’s no bad thing that they have been promoted.”

But the Bantams can look forward to plenty of derby fixtures next season following the relegation of Barnsley and Doncaster from the Championship.

Fleetwood, Chesterfield, Scunthorpe and Rochdale all move up from League Two and Parkinson said: “There should be some big away followings at Valley Parade and obviously our supporters will travel in numbers as well.”

Parkinson watched the play-off finals over the Bank Holiday weekend and admits it evoked memories of City’s demolition of Northampton last May.

He said: “I enjoyed watching the games and it was nice to remember it was us only 12 months ago.”