AS STUART McCall worked his way through last month's mail bag, a few unexpected letters were among those which whet his appetite for the new campaign ahead.

Now the dust has settled on the near promotion miss at Wembley, and with speculation over his own position put to bed following talks with the owners, the manager is preparing to go again with the Bantams.

That painful defeat against Millwall – made worse in the immediate aftermath after some Lions fans invaded the pitch and goaded City players and McCall – has inevitably taken some getting over.

Yet the Bantams chief is ready to give it another shot after completing the first anniversary of his second spell in charge earlier this week.

He said: "I've been catching up on last month's mail and it gets your mind and your focus going again. I've got to thank everyone for their letters and cards of support going forward.

"In among them there were three of four from Millwall supporters that were both apologising for the way it finished but also congratulating us on the season we'd had and the way we played, wishing us good luck for next season. I thought it was a nice touch from them."

McCall arrived back at Valley Parade 12 months ago insisting he was a different manager to the one who had left the club in February 2010 feeling dejected after failing to bring success to his beloved Bantams.

As a rookie boss, he became too emotionally involved as the failure to turn the club's fortunes around ate away at him.

But returning for his second spell after Phil Parkinson's shock departure, he insisted his head would rule his heart this time following experience in the hot seat at Motherwell and Rangers, coupled with being assistant Scotland coach.

Last season was largely a success story, despite the disappointing ending, but did McCall feel he was able to take a step back from his emotions when things didn't go right?

He said: "Yeah, definitely so. Since I left the club the first time round, I've been through so much, good and bad, and it only makes you stronger.

"I'm confident in my own ability to get the best out of players I've worked with. I've done that in the last six years and it's not an emotional thing.

"Obviously it is always disappointing when you get defeats. I tend to hold on to them longer than I do victories but that's just me as a person – you learn from it and you move on, I've no worries about that.

"I'm 53 now and mature. I've been involved in the game for 37 years – you've just got to ride the ups and downs and prepare each day the best you can and be ready for it. I'm looking forward to it again."

McCall looks back on last season with pride but does not want the club to rest on their laurels.

While fans have been concerned at losing out-of-contract players, the club remain confident that a rebuilt squad will be capable of mounting another promotion challenge.

McCall said: "We looked at a video montage before the final which evoked so many great memories.

"Although we fell at the final hurdle, getting there was a great journey. There were great highlights but we want to progress on that.

"The players have been a joy to work with and working at the club has been fantastic.

"The support has been so appreciated by myself, the staff, the players and everyone connected with the club. We just want to make sure now that we don't stand still and that we keep progressing.

"That's what you've got to do in life and certainly at football clubs. That's the owners' aim, that's my aim and that's the staff's aim – together, to be the best we can next season."

Having set the bar high by reaching the play-off final in his first 12 months, McCall accepts that will raise fans' expectations for his second year.

Having sold 18,600 season tickets thanks to their discounted prices – that figure could rise to near the 19,000 mark when donations and corporate sales have been counted up – supporters will want to see City in the mix and challenging near the top again.

McCall said: "Last year we came in and people didn't expect too much because we didn't have a lot of players and staff. We built it up with new owners, new manager and a new team.

"I think expectation will be a bit higher this season and that is something you've got to live with.

"When you are involved with a club like Bradford, who have more than 18,000 fans, then you've got to have expectations, of course you have."