SAD NEWS: Birmingham City announced that Paik Seung-ho is Leaving immediately after Facing…..

Birmingham’s chairman, Tom Wagner, insists relegation to League One will not derail his grand plans for the club but it is impossible not to recognise it is a significant backwards step.

Birmingham’s American owners plan to build a 60,000-capacity arena on a 48-acre site in nearby Bordesley Green, a world-class facility if it materialises, but no amount of CGI images can sugarcoat a thoroughly deflating end to another depressing season.

As arch-rivals Aston Villa close on qualifying for the Champions League, Birmingham are now preparing to play in the third tier for the first time since 1994-95.

Barry Fry ensured it was a brief stay, clinching promotion as champions that season, and Birmingham can only hope they will repeat the feat, their 13-season run in the Championship over.

“Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, you’re going to Shrewsbury,” sang the Norwich supporters, who can look forward to a date with Leeds and their former manager Daniel Farke in the playoffs.

Birmingham’s survival always hinged on getting favours elsewhere and with results going against them a narrow victory courtesy of Paik Seung-ho’s second-half header was insufficient.

There was no pinwheeling Paul Caddis moment to get them out of jail this time.

Perhaps the only consolation is that, whereas a decade ago there were fears of administration, if not liquidation, financially at least they appear in rude health.

Perhaps that is why there was a muted atmosphere at the final whistle, a jarring numbness, a few jeers as opposed to anarchy.