Birmingham City was relying on a slip-up from Plymouth Argyle to avoid relegation but were ultimately disappointed as Plymouth secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Hull, ensuring their survival by just one point. As the final whistle blew in Birmingham’s match against Norwich, confirming their relegation, the St. Andrew’s crowd reacted with boos and some supporters stormed the field in anger, clashing with stewards and confronting chairman Tom Wagner. Order was quickly restored, but the discontent among fans is likely to persist into the upcoming League One season.
Earlier in the season, Birmingham was in a strong position, sitting sixth in the Championship table. However, the decision by American financier Wagner, whose company Knighthead, with support from NFL legend Tom Brady, took over the club in July 2023, to sack manager John Eustace in October despite the team’s good form led to a series of managerial changes with poor outcomes. Wayne Rooney was appointed as the new manager, but he was dismissed in January after a string of losses. Interim manager Steve Spooner briefly took over, followed by Tony Mowbray, who stepped back due to health reasons after just eight games. Mark Venus then served as the second interim manager but was replaced by Gary Rowett after losing five of six games. Rowett, a former fan favorite, managed two wins in his seven games, but it was not enough to prevent relegation.
This turbulent season, marked by numerous managerial changes and poor results, has left fans frustrated and the club facing the challenges of competing in League One next season.
Birmingham chief Garry Cook’s open letter to fans
### Statement from Garry Cook, Chief Executive Officer
**Addressing Supporters**
Today marks a disappointing moment for our football club as our tenure in the Sky Bet Championship has concluded. I acknowledge that we have not met the expectations set for this season, and for that, I deeply regret the mistakes made. We are committed to learning from these errors and taking the necessary actions to prevent them from recurring.
**Gratitude to Supporters**
This season has been challenging, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support until the final whistle today. Your dedication has showcased to the football world why a full St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park is such a unique experience.
**Future Commitments**
Despite today’s outcome, I assure you that our executive leadership team is determined to improve. We are laying the foundations to ensure a stronger comeback for our club. We have the full backing of Tom Wagner and Knighthead Capital Management LLC to invest in the team, technology, personnel, and infrastructure. Tom reiterated during the April Blues Open House that his ambition is for Blues to be in the Premier League, competing at the highest level.
**Continued Ambition**
Relegation does not diminish this ambition. While we all feel the pain of this setback, I want to emphasize that better days lie ahead for us.
**Conclusion**
We are Blues. We may face losses, but we are never defeated.
Keep Right On!
Garry Cook
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