AS Stuart McCall took his seat in a lounge named in his honour at Valley Parade yesterday, all around him were reminders of his legendary status as a player.

In the McCall Suite stands a life-size wooden cut-out of the 52-year-old and other celebrated names of yesteryear such as Peter Beagrie, Derek Hawksworth, Peter Downsborough and Bruce Bannister.

McCall gave blood, sweat and tears for City as a player and is rightly revered as one of their greatest-ever servants following his two spells in the claret and amber.

His first managerial stint came at a notoriously tough period in City’s history and McCall, by his own admission, did neither the club nor himself justice.

Now, though, this is a very different Bradford City and a very different McCall as the club embarks on a new chapter under Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp.

McCall said: “I was out on the training ground this morning and it’s like night and day compared to when I was here last time.

“It’s fantastic, so the structure and the basis to have success is there.

“The fanbase, and I came to a few games here last season, is incredible.

“We’ve just got to build on that, look forward and be positive.

“There are some big clubs coming down and what I can guarantee is that there is a work ethic at the club and a desire and determination from everyone.

“It’s a closely-run club with James Mason, the owners and the supporters obviously play a massive part in that.

“There are no promises but promotion has got to be the aim.

“The club have been progressing nicely for the last few seasons and we don’t want that momentum to stop.”

The club’s German owners were conspicuous by their absence at McCall’s unveiling but the new man is confident of success under their stewardship.

McCall said: “I look at the owners and the infrastructure and I see a realism that this is a big football club who can be a Championship side, without a doubt.

“That’s where we want to take it and the Premier League has to be the long-term aim and I’m sure it is.

“I believe the owners have talked about a three-year strategy to maybe get into the Championship.

“That may shorten depending on things that we can do, but every club wants success.

“Bolton and Charlton have come down and will want to bounce straight back up.

“Look at Scunthorpe and Sheffield United – it will be very competitive next season, as it always is.

“But we’ve got to ensure we are very competitive to give ourselves an opportunity at the back end of the season in a position where we can challenge.

“Yes, we want promotion but there also has to be a strategy and structure in place for the long-term of the club.

“That’s certainly something the owners have been looking at as well.

“The fans are literally like a 12th man and the atmosphere here is fantastic.

“We’ve got to produce the football on the park to get them excited.

“That’s the ambition, that’s the aim, and the games cannot come quickly enough.”