Simon Parker column

It’s only four weeks since we were immersed in the euphoria of City’s promotion at Wembley.

But three days from now, the road back there begins with the draw for the opening round of next season’s Capital One Cup.

And for the first time in 12 years, the line-up from the lower divisions will include one of the previous finalists.

Birmingham in 2001 were the last side forced to kick off the League Cup from the very beginning having made it all the way to the final two. In their case, they had been beaten by Liverpool on penalties at the Millennium Stadium.

The difference between them then and City now is that at least Brum – as a Championship club – were seeded. The Bantams will not enjoy the same luxury on Monday morning.

Yes, I know rules are rules and City’s status as a League Two club at the end of last season, even if they were about to go up, means they did not make the cut.

But surely, given the exceptional circumstances of a team from the basement division reaching the final, it should not be asking too much to seed them for this one-off occasion. It’s not as if it’s likely to happen again.

The guarantee of facing higher opposition, something that did not trouble them before, does open the door to the possibility of facing Leeds or Huddersfield – or Notts County once again.

But after the fantastic publicity City’s journey gave the competition last time, it’s still a mean-spirited own goal from the organisers.