Relegated from the Championship on Saturday afternoon, Birmingham City will have to acclimate to life in the English football league’s third division come season’s end.
After the draw against Huddersfield Town the previous Saturday, Blues realized they would need to defeat Norwich City and pray for good fortune elsewhere in order to avoid dropping out. Paik Seung-ho’s close-range goal won the match, although Gary Rowett’s team did their part as well in the afternoon.
Birmingham, however, was aware of their fate before the final whistle because of victories over Hull City, Sunderland, and Leicester City by Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, and Blackburn Rovers, respectively. BirminghamLive has examined the national media’s reaction to the depressing day in more detail.
The Sports
Rob Tanner wrote the following in response to the club that began the season as a new dawn: “It has been a tale of disruption and disharmony, with a further four coaches tasked with picking a starting line-up during a season of chaos and former England captain Wayne Rooney, tasked with bringing in a brand of ‘no fear’ football as [John] Eustace’s replacement, lasting just 15 games.
Birmingham’s 13-year tenure in the Championship, the second division of English football, is coming to an end, despite the takeover by new owner Tom Wagner last summer and the investment of his company Knighthead Capital Management, as well as the presence of seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady as chairman of the advisory board. Rather than anticipated promotion to the Premier League, they will need to start over in League One, where they haven’t played in 30 years.
“The rot was unstoppable even with perennial winner Brady present.”
BBC Athletic
“So it is a bitter return to English football’s third tier – for only the third time in their history,” Ged Scott continued. A prospect that seemed ages away in September of that year, following the season’s unexpectedly strong start under Eustace, when world-renowned athlete Tom Brady made his highly anticipated debut as the Blues’ new co-owner.
Only three of Rowett’s eight games under command were losses. However, Eustace was responsible for five of the Blues’ 13 league victories this season, which is a terrible season’s epilogue. Additionally, the owners have already acknowledged that they miscalculated the time of his departure.”
Everyday Mirror
Scott Trotter came to the following conclusion: “Despite a 1-0 victory over Norwich City on the final day, Boos reigned down at St Andrew’s.” After Blackburn Rovers’ thrilling last-day victory and head coach John Eustace’s October dismissal with the team in sixth place, the Midlands team’s terrible season comes to an end.
Birmingham’s relegation occurs less than a year after Shelby Companies Limited, owned by Tom Wagner, agreed to assume leadership. Shelby Companies Limited is a tribute to the television series Peaky Blinders, which is situated in Birmingham. However, following a turbulent season, the new owners will now have to watch their team play in the third division of English football.”
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