IT’S that dog-eat-dog time again as City prepare for another crack at the play-offs.

In less than a week, we could be getting ready for a trip to Wembley – or once again coming to terms with semi-final disappointment.

But whatever happens in the next couple of games, I think we can still look back on this season as one to remember.

I did a column last summer just after Phil Parkinson had left and said Stuart was as good as any of the names of candidates being bandied about to take over.

He’s more mature now, more experienced and has learned a lot from his time at Motherwell and Rangers and working with Scotland.

But before a ball was kicked, if you’d asked any City fan how the season would go the answer was the same: “Don’t know.”

With Stuart coming in, the new owners and the change of players as well, nobody could be sure.

So we’ve all got to be delighted at how well things have gone. Even the most optimistic supporter couldn’t have hoped for any better.

Fortunately for Stuart, there was a good nucleus of senior pros here when he took over and the players who have come in have fitted in ever so well because they look up to them.

The team clicked pretty much from day one against Port Vale, even if they did not win that game.

Of course there could have been a lot more points on the table because of the number of draws. That’s been a source of frustration for everyone.

But you find me anyone who expected City to do so well when all the changes were happening last summer.

Even the style of play has been different and the fans have clearly liked the product.

You’re in the entertainment industry in football and the crowd have enjoyed what’s been on show. Once again they have backed the team in numbers – look at how close the club are already getting to selling 20,000 season-tickets for next year.

It’s just a shame we couldn’t have turned a few of those draws into wins. That’s how close we have been to the top two – a handful of points away.

But if I was the owners, I’d look at the season as a whole and see it as a fantastic start to their tenure here.

They’ve brought in a steady pair of hands who knew the football club and Stuart, Greg Abbott and the whole backroom staff have guided them along.

It’s been a learning process for the owners as well in their first year in the English game but they’ve attracted good football people who have the club’s interests at heart.

Edin and Stefan have got to be happy with that.

Any appointment is a gamble and there are only so many managers in the league who can be successful.

We don’t know how it’s going to go in the play-offs and whether City can make it to Wembley and win promotion to the Championship.

But even if they fall short, the season has been a big positive.

You’ll never please everyone of course. But that’s life in general.

If you’d stuck 100 fans in a room when the appointment was made, you’d probably get two-thirds in Stuart’s favour. Quite a few would have been against.

You’ll always get somebody who will disagree. It’s the same week in, week out after the games - that’s why you get these keyboard warriors spouting off at times, usually after a defeat.

But as a manager you’ve got to be thick-skinned. Don’t allow outside influences to bother you and just remain focused on the job ahead.

Stick to your principles and to your beliefs, win, draw or lose, keep doing it your way.

Stuart has done that and City’s league record speaks for itself with so few defeats.

To go unbeaten all season at Valley Parade is a fantastic achievement and they are heading into the play-offs on the back of five home wins on the bounce.

All in all, it’s been a good season up to now. Let’s make it a great one.

*John Hendrie was talking to Simon Parker