Mircea Sandu and Viorel Năstase were transferred in the summer, then even that at the end of the season the team took the second place in the series, right behind Sportul Studențesc, shortly after, Paul Manta, Adalbert Kassai, Nicolae Tănăsescu, Gabriel Raksi and Aurel Beldeanu also left the club. In the 1972–73 edition, the team was ranked as a middle-table squad of the second tier. "The bankers" will promote to Divizia A only 1976, after another three seasons spent in the second division. The joy of promotion was a short one, because, after a season spent in the top flight, Progresul relegated again in 1977, after finishing only 17th out of 18. The inconstancy of the team continued in the next period, especially due to some financial problems combined with the youthfulness of the first team, and after two mediocre campaigns "the bleu and blues" promoted again in the summer of 1980, this time under the name of Progresul Vulcan București finishing at only two points ahead of Rapid București. The 1980s started with a tough season for Progresul, which managed to maintain in the first division by having a better goal difference than Politehnica Iași, after scoring a goal at the end of the last day of the season. Remarkable were also the victories against Steaua (1-0) and Universitatea Craiova (3-2). In the following championship, Progresul relegated, along with Universitatea Cluj and UTA Arad. In the 1980s, teams such as FC Olt Scornicești, Flacăra Moreni and Victoria București appeared on the first stage of Romanian football. The management of the club tried to replace Viorel Mateianu, who has returned to the team after the successful experiment from Baia Mare, with Robert Cosmoc. The results were unsatisfactory and in the spring, the team reached the 10th place. Distinguished journalist Radu Cosașu, a sympathizer of "the bankers", wrote about this period: "Throughout these years, Progresul has strengthened me through suffering." The decade continued in a bad rhythm for the team from the Sycamore Park which didn't manage to promote in the first league for six years, in which it finished on the following positions: 1983–84 – 10th, 1984–85 – 3rd, 1985–86 – 2nd, 1986–87 – 2nd. After three seasons in which Progresul fought for promotion, the lack of success and of an own stadium, after the decision to decommission the Dr. Staicovici Stadium, led the club in a state of demoralization