Charlie Methven says everyone involved with Sunderland must dust themselves down after missing out on automatic promotion, and make sure promotion is gained through the play-offs instead.
Sunderland succumbed in the battle for automatic promotion in League One, winning just one of their last six games - thus allowing Barnsley and Luton to claim their places in next season's Championship.
But Sunderland will have another chance to secure their immediate return to the second tier when they enter the play-offs alongside Portsmouth, Charlton, and either Doncaster or Peterborough.
The Black Cats executive director was on TalkSport on Friday to discuss the season and missing out on a place in the top two and told Jim White: "Draws have been very costly. We've had 19 of them and if we'd have just won six of them, lost six of them and drew the rest, which would be a bit more normal form, we would be champions.
"The draws have come of different circumstances in the season, with some coming after we were in winning positions and some we've come from behind.
"But, when push comes to shove, we have not been quite decisive enough at either end of the pitch."
He continued: "We are going to be up for the play-offs. We are currently just gathering ourselves to make sure we are ready.
"We were disappointed not to go up automatically having been in the mix all season. We've just had a sticky patch at a crucial stage in the season where we've been really unlucky with hitting the woodwork a lot, and keepers having blinders against us and things like that.
"As a result, what should have been 12 points has only been five.
"The whole club has just got to dust itself down and pick itself up for the challenge which is the play-offs."
Sunderland know only too well how much of a lottery the play-offs can be.
Those old enough to remember it are still scarred by the 1998 heartbreak that saw Micky Gray miss a decisive penalty at Wembley in defeat to Charlton, while Mick McCarthy's side fell in the semi-finals back in 2004 against Crystal Palace.
But having had their own penalty heartbreak at Wembley this season against Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy, Methven admits it would be an amazing way to seal promotion and end a positive season at the Wearside club.
"It would be immense," he admitted. "Everyone knows it is the best way to go up in terms of excitement, but you cannot guarantee anything in the play-offs.
"The fans have got a bit cumbersome because we've not won as many as we should have recently.
"But what a way to go up it would be. After the cup final defeat at Wembley it would be perfect. The second series of the Netflix documentary would certainly get the perfect ending.
"We can't think about Wembley again just yet though. We have to get through the semi finals first and if we can, and we can go up at Wembley, it would be an immense day for the club and everyone involved with it."
Sunderland have one more regular league game to complete before the play-offs begin, however.
They travel to Southend on Saturday in a game which has huge implications for the Essex club at the other end of the League One table.
As such, Methven insists Sunderland will treat the game with respect. And if that wasn't motivation enough then appeasing another sold-out away following should be.
The club director was full of praise for the supporters, who he feels don't get enough credit from beyond Wearside.
"The size of the fan base in general is not appreciated enough elsewhere.
"We're going to end the season with the highest average home attendance ever in the English third tier - beating Manchester City's previous record. It's an enormous fan base.
"They always travel to back us in great numbers too. To be honest, every away game is inconvenient for Sunderland fans in terms of travel - if you think Southend this weekend is a long one - it's nothing compared to the long trip all the way down to Plymouth!
"But they've sold out the allocation at Southend again this weekend and it makes us incredibly proud."
