When he sends his team out for the start of the 2008-09 Championship season Bristol City manager Gary Johnson will be demanding an improved showing from players who last term failed only in the Play-Off Final to secure a second successive promotion.

The Robins were generally acknowledged to have over-achieved when, 12 months after finishing as League 1 runners-up, they ended the 2006-07 campaign fourth in the Championship then reached Wembley before losing 1-0 to Hull City.

Proud though he was of the achievement, however, Johnson - whose side kick off the new season with a trip to Blackpool - has consigned it to the memory bank and says: "We feel we failed, even though a lot of people have said we had a great season.

"In many ways it was, but when you get as close (to promotion) as we did it's so near yet so far. Now we've got to enjoy coming back to the Championship, and not to see it as a chore but to be that much more ready.

"I want the players to come back (for pre-season) refreshed and raring to go, but not just that - I want them to come back one or two per cent better in whatever they need to do to help themselves and the team.

"You've got to keep on improving because there are some really strong sides in the Championship. You have to work very, very hard to be at the top and after only one year in the league we'll have to work even harder because of second season syndrome."

To help ensure that the Robins can handle that 'second season syndrome,' Johnson will be adding to the strength and depth of his playing squad - and not just by signing players from within the UK.

Along with his brother Pete, City's chief scout, Johnson has been watching Euro 2008 at first hand in Austria and Switzerland as he looks for potential recruits to boost his team's chances of next season going one better in their bid to reach the Premiership.

"We have a couple of players we're looking at during the tournament," says Johnson. We're heading over there at times so we have our fingers on the pulse. We'll certainly be adding to the squad, but we've got to make sure the additions are the right ones."