STUART McCall has never shirked a challenge, whether it be in the heart of midfield or the tension of the touchline.

And he has no intention of taking a backward step now after City's promotion dream fell at the final hurdle.

Saturday's loss to Millwall at Wembley remains raw for a manager so tightly associated with his club.

To come so close but end up with nothing is a blow that will naturally take some time to recover from.

Yet McCall knows there is no time to wallow – and nor would he want to.

Yesterday's scheduled meeting with Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp was the first of several important sit-downs over the coming days to shape the direction in which City will now head.

McCall admits his first year back was not an easy one, even given such an impressive run of results.

The change in philosophy behind the scenes, with his German paymasters keen to adopt a more Bundesliga approach to the way the club are set up and run, has inevitably produced its teething troubles.

Both owners and manager have acknowledged that but McCall is equally sure that he wants to resume the reins for a second crack next season.

"It's probably been one of the most challenging seasons that I've had in football," he said.

"But only because of new owners (at the club) and things being done a little bit differently from what I've been used to as a coach, manager and player.

"As the season's gone on, I think we've found a balance. Naturally in football you have differences of opinions – but we're all here together."

Rahic spoke in the T&A last week about the learning curve involved with both himself and McCall to strike a happy medium with how he wants to operate.

McCall can also appreciate the stress and strain that his chairman faces with the daily running of a football club.

The Bantams boss said: "You look back through the whole season and there have been challenging times.

"I'm sure Edin will say the same. At certain times, things could have been a lot different.

"It is so tough trying to run a football club, especially when you come in from a different country with no football business management.

"He's got business management but not in football, especially at the level we're in. It's tough and you've got to pick through it and learn from everybody."

Both owners exuded confidence ahead of the play-off final. Steve Morison's late winner for Millwall was not part of the plan.

But as Rupp stressed immediately afterwards, the disappointment of defeat has merely "postponed" their efforts in moving the club forward. There will be other chances.

McCall said: "It's still very raw at the moment because we'd prepared terrifically. But immense pride is probably the biggest emotion."

Asked if he would be happy to do it all again next season, the City manager left room for no doubt.

He said: "Yes, of course. As I said, it's been probably the most challenging year but I've loved the majority of the time.

"To work with the players and the staff has been brilliant. To put smiles on people's faces after games and what it's meant to them to have a visit to Wembley, even though we couldn't win it.

"We've pleased a lot of fans this season. The feel-good factor has been there and the willingness from the fans to get behind us and give us that backing has been fantastic.

"Yes, we'll regroup and get ready to go again."

The most pressing issue will be contracts – on and off the field. Six of the senior players have deals that run out at the end of next month and there is a similar situation with the coaching staff.

Both McCall and his assistant Kenny Black arrived last summer on two-year contracts but the rest of their team will need to be sorted out.

McCall said: "The staff have been outstanding and some of their contracts are up. There will be a lot of discussions over the next two or three days.

"But come the first day of pre-season on June 29, we'll be up and at it and demanding the best from everyone, as we have done every day this year."