Birmingham City's 2014/15 season

2014/15 League Position: tenth (2013/14: 21st)

Average league attendance: 16,111 (2013/14: 15,457)

Top league goalscorer: Clayton Donaldson (15)

A tenth placed finish masked what was a disappointing 2014/15 campaign for Birmingham City. The Blues had escaped relegation to League One on the final day of the 2013/14 season under Lee Clark, with the intention of moving up the other end of the table.

Brentford striker Clayton Donaldson had arrived on a Bosman free transfer in the summer after rejecting a new deal at Griffin Park, with a host of other new signings that included David Cotterill (Doncaster Rovers) and Stephen Gleeson (Milton Keynes Dons). Through the outdoor included former Brentford loanee Tom Adeyemi, who left for Cardiff City in a £1m deal.

Despite progressing to the Capital One Cup Second Round, by October Birmingham were lying deep in the drop zone, with only two league wins (over Brighton and Hove Albion and Millwall) to their name. The Club took the decision to replace manager Clark with Gary Rowett, who was manager of League Two Burton Albion.

His appointment was made two days after an embarrassing 8-0 defeat at home to eventual champions AFC Bournemouth, a result that emphasised the task ahead of the 40-year-old former Blues defender. Results did pick up, with only two league defeats in the next two months that saw them lift to 11th place in the table.

Exiting the FA Cup in the Fourth Round at home to West Bromwich Albion in January, The Blues suffered a slump, with their next win at home to Brentford on 28 February. Wins in their final three league matches saw them reach tenth place, but Blues fans – and owners Birmingham International Holdings – will be hoping for much a better campaign next season.