JOSH Cullen has urged City to give it an even bigger shot next season as he goes his separate way.

The West Ham midfielder is expected to be loaned out for a third time by the Premier League club.

But the Hammers believe he is now ready to be moved up to Championship football – ruling him out of another return to Valley Parade.

Cullen could well have stayed had City beaten Millwall at Wembley and he admitted losing in the play-off final was a sickener to finish with.

He said: "It's hard to put into words the overall disappointment. We probably had the lion's share of possession but they got the goal at the end.

"The lads have just got to try and bounce back now, as Millwall have done.

"To go as far as we have done was an achievement after the position we were in over the summer.

"Expectations have been exceeded and I'm sure the lads will give it a great shot next season.

"The club have got to move on now, as I have to do in my career, but I'm sure the lads will move the club forward."

Cullen, signed by Phil Parkinson in February 2016, made 64 appearances with City – and finished on the losing side only 12 times. He was named the players' player of the year at last month's awards.

He said: "I couldn't have really wished for a better club to join on loan. It's a great club with great people and I wanted to come back for a second spell and get us promoted.

"We went one step closer than last season but came short again and this is a club I feel a passion for, so it's hard to take."

Defeat to West Ham's bitter rivals Millwall might have come as an extra personal blow for the Republic of Ireland under-21 international. Yet he admitted the pain of being pipped for promotion in such agonising fashion would have been the same regardless.

Cullen said: "I support West Ham but when it comes to playing, it's business. It doesn't hurt any more just because we lost to Millwall. It would hurt just as much whoever the opposition were."

The midfielder is still aiming to break into the Hammers side in the near future but appreciates they are looking to build him up gradually to be ready for the top flight.

"The whole process of me going out on loan is to increase my chances of getting into West Ham's first team," he said.

"Discussions will now take place and we'll see where we go from there.

"Hopefully, I will be a West Ham player next season, but if not then a Championship club will probably be the next step for me."