CITY should let Stuart McCall lift the play-off trophy if they win promotion at Wembley next week.

Former Bantams joint-chairman Mark Lawn feels it would be fitting to let the manager hoist the silverware to acknowledge the job he will have done in taking them up.

A year on from handing over control of the club, Lawn will watch the League One final against Millwall from a Wembley box – and he hopes to witness McCall sealing a triumphant return to the City helm by delivering a return to second-tier football.

Lawn said: "It's no more than what he deserves. Stuart has given everything for this football club as a player and as a manager.

"I think back to when we had him here the first time and how much he gave emotionally because this was his club. There were sleepless nights and even times when he was throwing up on the coach on the way back because we've lost.

"He deserves to pick that trophy up, so I suggest the players give it to him and let him lift it. That would be the best reward."

Lawn has always admitted the biggest regret of his nine years of City ownership alongside Julian Rhodes was that McCall could not bring them success in his first hot-seat spell.

He has noticed the difference in the Bantams boss from McCall's experience gained in Scotland since leaving Valley Parade in 2010.

Lawn said: "You can tell Stuart has changed. Don't get me wrong, he still loves this club, but I think he's come back this time and been more sensible with his decision making.

"He's learnt from his managerial career. I wish I had him now instead of then!

"Like us all, it is difficult when you make that transition from the workface to a managerial role for the first time.

"It's hard when you move up because you have to leave all your mates behind and make the hard decisions. You need to learn that and I think we were a great learning curve for him.

"But I always knew he was going to be a good manager. When he moved to Motherwell, he just proved how good he was. To get them into Europe was an immense thing.

"I think he will be a good manager in the Championship as well."

Lawn has enjoyed McCall's change of playing style and he believes that will give City a better chance of making amends for last year's play-off exit at Millwall's hands.

He has been impressed with the recruitment but also feels the Bantams boss was left a solid base to build on.

"Let's be honest, look at every member of the squad that we left and there were quality players," said Lawn.

"You see where some moved on to – James Hanson promoted, Filipe Morais promoted and Josh Morris was one of the league's top scorers and nearly made the play-off final.

"But they didn't have the style of play that Stuart wanted. It gave him the opportunity to turn round and bring in his own brand of football. It's prettier to watch now than what it was before.

"I'm not slagging off Phil Parkinson because I think he did a brilliant job. I think it needs to be mixed at some stages and perhaps we don't do that now.

"But we play more football. That's why I think we've got a great chance of beating Millwall.

"They'll be physical and not play as much football as we can. If we can get it down and play, that will be the edge we can have."