Blues endured a wretched 2018/19 campaign however it wasn’t their performances on the pitch that were the problem.
Constant instability behind the scenes lead to the EFL slapping the club with a points deduction; dashing any hopes of a top-six finish.
Birmingham have been without top-flight football since 2010/11 and are now facing a ninth consecutive season in the Championship.
This will undoubtedly be their toughest season since dropping down into England’s second-tier as the club begins the process of rebuilding.
Last season
Birmingham City finished in 17th place in the Championship after a nine-point deduction was imposed on the club for breaches of Profitability and Sustainability Regulations.
Despite also starting the 2018/19 campaign with transfer restrictions, Blues were pushing for a play-off spot prior to their points-penalty.
However, following their nine-point deduction, Birmingham managed to secure Championship safety with just two matches left to play.
Garry Monk was sacked at the end of the season and many Blues fans are upset that the board didn’t try and do more to keep Monk as manager.
Next season
Monk’s assistant Pep Clotet has been confirmed as the club’s caretaker manager heading into the new campaign.
The Spaniard faces the monumental challenge of trying to motivate his squad after losing the club’s two standout performers in the transfer window.
Che Adams has joined Premier League side Southampton. The striker appeared in all 48 of Birmingham’s matches last season and finished as the club’s top scorer with 22 goals.
Star-man Jota has also left the club, crossing the Second City divide to join bitter rivals Aston Villa. The 28-year-old spent two seasons as St Andrew’s but has jumped ship with the club in turmoil.
Following the departure of Adams and Jota, the squad now lacks quality and it is in need of four or five players with Championship experience in order to challenge in the league this time around.
Considering everything that has happened at the club in recent times, the majority of Blues fans will be happy with a consistent and uneventful 2019/20 campaign.
Players in
Dom Crowley - €780k from Willem II
Gary Gardner - Free from Aston Villa
Jack Clarke-Salter - Loan from Chelsea
Players out
Che Adams - €16.70m to Southampton
Jota - €4.50 to Aston Villa
Bez Lubala - Free to Crawley Town
Michael Morrison - Free to Reading
Greg Stewart - Free to Rangers
Viv Solomon-Otabor - Free to CSKA Sofia
Tomasz Kuszczak - Released
Chiekh N’Doye - Released
Predicted league finish
The predicted league finish for Birmingham City is 14th. Blues will be content with mid-table as they look to reconstruct following a dismal 2018/19 campaign.