Mark Lawn expects Phil Parkinson to finally put pen to paper when their contract talks resume tomorrow.

The City boss will meet the board again before his promoted side embark on an open-top bus parade to show off the League Two play-off trophy.

Millwall are the latest club to be linked with Parkinson after they drew up a five-man shortlist for the New Den vacancy yesterday.

But Lawn believes the on-going speculation surrounding the manager’s future is ready to be put to bed.

After Wembley, Parkinson repeated that a new deal had been “verbally agreed” and was just waiting on the rest of his coaching staff to be finalised.

And joint-chairman Lawn revealed they are already planning for League One – and a tilt at the play-offs.

He said: “We’re talking to Phil about budgets for next year and who he wants in. So unless I’m reading it totally wrong, he’s going to sign.

“Phil is a man of his word. He’s said he wants to stop and will sign his contract – I don’t think there’s a need to push him.

“We’re looking to tie him up for a decent term and I want him to take us into the Championship. Phil knows that is our ambition and I think we’ve got the capabilities to do that.

“I had a brief conversation with Phil on Sunday and, looking at the teams in League One, without being disrespectful to them, I think we could be pushing for the play-offs and promotion next year.

“That’s if we get it right. We’ve got to strengthen as Phil has already told me.

“In his words, he wants to bring in some quality. We didn’t talk numbers but we’ll sit down tomorrow when we do his contract and go through everybody.”

Parkinson’s fantastic efforts in leading City to two Wembley finals earned another accolade yesterday from the League Managers’ Association.

And Lawn, who predicts City will earn up to £1m more from going up, has promised he will be handed a “competitive” budget for next term.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t do well, especially if we can give Phil enough money for him to strengthen how he wants. But we will be sensible.”

Promotion triggered another year for skipper Gary Jones, and the club will also exercise their option to keep Kyel Reid. But the other out-of-contract players will be on the agenda.

And City could face higher competition to keep the likes of Andrew Davies and Nathan Doyle.

Lawn added: “There are obviously one or two that I think will be moving on to the Championship. But hopefully we can keep as many as possible.”

Prize asset Nahki Wells continues to be tracked by several second-tier clubs but Lawn believes the Bermudian hot-shot will benefit from staying with City.

“Nahki’s got another two years with us but I’m realistic and you couldn’t step in a young lad’s way if a Premier League team came in.

“But I think it will do him the world of good to have another year with us at that next step up.

“If he scored 26 goals again in League One, suddenly it won’t be Championship sides looking at him but Premier League ones.”