Don Goodman makes positive Birmingham City owner claims despite “detrimental” decision that led to League One

 

Even though Birmingham City defeated Norwich City on the last day of the season, they were sent down to the third division of English football for the first time since 1995.

After going through several managers over the season, Gary Rowett’s team’s final day of play saw results go against them, condemning them to relegation. Ultimately, this lack of consistency has cost them their Championship status.

Birmingham supporters should remain optimistic despite their team’s first-ever relegation to League One in 29 years, since the club’s new owners intend to take it to greater heights in the future. Let’s hope that this is simply an early setback.

With the recent announcement of ambitious plans to construct a new stadium by Tom Wagner and the Blues management, things are starting to look up—at least off the pitch.

Don Goodman tips Birmingham City for promotion next season

After firing John Eustace in October, Sky Sports EFL commentator Don Goodman feels that Birmingham City’s owners are to blame for the club’s relegation. However, he also thinks that if they make the correct choices this summer, the team will want to go to the Championship right away.

“Determinations regarding relegation are made by the ownership,” Goodman stated to Football League World. They are ultimately responsible.

“They will take stock of the situation and admit that firing John Eustace had a negative effect on the team; otherwise, we wouldn’t be discussing relegation right now. That is not to argue that he would not have left at season’s end or something like.

“They’re so ambitious but now they’ve got to make sure that the decisions they make are right because they’ve got so many wrong this season.”

Goodman, though, thinks the club’s new owners can help the team immediately return to the Championship and help revive the positive atmosphere at St Andrew’s.

“The fans of Birmingham City understand that the previous ownership was chaotic and caused the team to drastically stagnate,” he stated. Anything is preferable than that. The fact that funds are now being allocated to the team and the infrastructure pleases the supporters.

Birmingham City is going to be promoted next season if the owners make the correct decisions and hire the right people. League One wasn’t particularly good this season, and I don’t see it being much better next season either. League One had a very successful 2022–2023 season.

“If I was a Birmingham fan, I’d be really disappointed at being relegated but also optimistic that the hierarchy make the correct decisions, win games of football, rediscover the feel-good factor, get behind the team and see them get back to the Championship in a strong place.”

Birmingham City can’t be complacent this summer

Birmingham City should be certain of gaining promotion on their first try, but they must remain vigilant because history shows that larger teams don’t always go straight up from the third division.

After being demoted to League One in 2018, Sunderland was not the first team to return to the Championship; in fact, it took them four seasons, and there are many more instances of this.

Between 2007 and 2010, Leeds played three seasons in League One, and between 2005 and 2008, Nottingham Forest played three seasons in the third division.