Hull City's Premier League season ends with the visit of Everton to the KC Stadium tomorrow, but manager Steve Bruce admits ambitious plans are already being drawn up to take the club on to the next level in 2014-15.
City have exceeded all expectations in their first campaign back in the top flight, guaranteeing survival with two games to spare and marching all the way to a first FA Cup final.
Next weekend's date with Arsenal has also booked City's place in next season's Europa League and leaves Bruce facing fresh challenges.
"We're under no illusions over how difficult it's going to be. For me, the second year is more difficult than the first," said Bruce, whose side could climb as high as 13th with a final-day win over the Toffees.
"The expectation rises a little bit. I think people are realistic enough to know that's the way it is. We've got to stay here.
"We're always going to be in our half of the division. You can name the top six or seven clubs, perhaps not in the right order, but you can name them.
"That's always going to be the case because of the bigger budgets and the wage bills. The more you spend, the higher you finish. But we'll never stop trying to improve as long as I'm here."
Bruce's plans for future prosperity stretch across the board. On top of a £6m investment to upgrade City's Cottingham training complex and fund a new Academy site at Bishop Burton, the Tigers boss is keen to bolster his squad.
For all the Europa League's attractions, clubs have traditionally felt the strain of a schedule that could lead to an additional 10 games in City's season before Christmas.
Although victory over Arsenal next weekend would send Bruce's men straight into the group stages commencing on September 18, a failure to win at Wembley would see the Tigers qualify as FA Cup runners-up and begin their season in the third round of qualifiers on July 31.
The make-up of Bruce's squad is also likely to cause problems. A 25-man roster needs to be submitted to UEFA and include four players trained by City between the ages of 15 and 21. At present no senior squad members fit those requirements.
"There's a huge complication with Europe," said Bruce. "However, let's not derail it before we get into it. When the draw comes out in mid-July then to see our name in amongst it is fantastic. That's when it will grab hold of people. Big clubs with huge traditions and histories. To be part of it is great.
"The reason we've tailed off, though, is the FA Cup. You can see why Liverpool have done so well. Week to week, they can prepare. It makes such a difference to be able to prepare. When you play Saturday, Thursday, Sunday, it is very difficult. We understand that and how difficult it is, but we can't be frightened of it."
New arrivals are guaranteed, but Bruce has made it clear no centre forwards will be targeted.
January buys Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long complement Sone Aluko and Yannick Sagbo and Bruce hopes Matty Fryatt can be persuaded to complete his options.
"I will not be looking at any strikers," said Bruce, who also dismissed links with Augsburg's Kevin Vogt.
"I can clearly say I'm very happy with what we've got there, if we tie up Fryatt, which I'm hoping we can do.
"Jelavic, Long, Aluko, Fryatt and Sagbo. That's one area I will not be touching. I'm looking at midfielders and defenders.
"Recruitment is a vital part of it. We're going to need another four or five players to come in and freshen the whole thing up again."
City have exceeded all expectations in their first campaign back in the top flight, guaranteeing survival with two games to spare and marching all the way to a first FA Cup final.
Next weekend's date with Arsenal has also booked City's place in next season's Europa League and leaves Bruce facing fresh challenges.
"We're under no illusions over how difficult it's going to be. For me, the second year is more difficult than the first," said Bruce, whose side could climb as high as 13th with a final-day win over the Toffees.
"The expectation rises a little bit. I think people are realistic enough to know that's the way it is. We've got to stay here.
"We're always going to be in our half of the division. You can name the top six or seven clubs, perhaps not in the right order, but you can name them.
"That's always going to be the case because of the bigger budgets and the wage bills. The more you spend, the higher you finish. But we'll never stop trying to improve as long as I'm here."
Bruce's plans for future prosperity stretch across the board. On top of a £6m investment to upgrade City's Cottingham training complex and fund a new Academy site at Bishop Burton, the Tigers boss is keen to bolster his squad.
For all the Europa League's attractions, clubs have traditionally felt the strain of a schedule that could lead to an additional 10 games in City's season before Christmas.
Although victory over Arsenal next weekend would send Bruce's men straight into the group stages commencing on September 18, a failure to win at Wembley would see the Tigers qualify as FA Cup runners-up and begin their season in the third round of qualifiers on July 31.
The make-up of Bruce's squad is also likely to cause problems. A 25-man roster needs to be submitted to UEFA and include four players trained by City between the ages of 15 and 21. At present no senior squad members fit those requirements.
"There's a huge complication with Europe," said Bruce. "However, let's not derail it before we get into it. When the draw comes out in mid-July then to see our name in amongst it is fantastic. That's when it will grab hold of people. Big clubs with huge traditions and histories. To be part of it is great.
"The reason we've tailed off, though, is the FA Cup. You can see why Liverpool have done so well. Week to week, they can prepare. It makes such a difference to be able to prepare. When you play Saturday, Thursday, Sunday, it is very difficult. We understand that and how difficult it is, but we can't be frightened of it."
New arrivals are guaranteed, but Bruce has made it clear no centre forwards will be targeted.
January buys Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long complement Sone Aluko and Yannick Sagbo and Bruce hopes Matty Fryatt can be persuaded to complete his options.
"I will not be looking at any strikers," said Bruce, who also dismissed links with Augsburg's Kevin Vogt.
"I can clearly say I'm very happy with what we've got there, if we tie up Fryatt, which I'm hoping we can do.
"Jelavic, Long, Aluko, Fryatt and Sagbo. That's one area I will not be touching. I'm looking at midfielders and defenders.
"Recruitment is a vital part of it. We're going to need another four or five players to come in and freshen the whole thing up again."
