, ▁finishing ▁fourth ▁of ▁eight ▁teams , ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁Football ▁League ▁War ▁Cup , ▁in ▁which ▁they ▁lost ▁to ▁event ual ▁w inners ▁West ▁Ham ▁United ▁in ▁the ▁quarter ▁final . ▁ ▁Background ▁After ▁ 1 8 ▁consecutive ▁seasons ▁in ▁the ▁First ▁Division , ▁B irmingham ▁were ▁re leg ated ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 8 – 3 9 ▁Football ▁League ▁campaign . ▁Manager ▁George ▁L idd ell ▁res igned , ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁his ▁former ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁school te acher . ▁First - team ▁coach ▁Jack ▁Best all ▁also ▁left ▁the ▁club . ▁No ▁success ors ▁were ▁appointed . ▁Tra iner ▁Billy ▁Gib son ' s ▁duties ▁were ▁extended ▁to ▁include ▁co aching , ▁and ▁Jack ▁F oster , ▁formerly ▁chief ▁sc out ▁at ▁Port sm outh , ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁corresponding ▁role ▁at ▁B irmingham . ▁The ▁direct ors ▁stated ▁that ▁they ▁were ▁" prep ared ▁to ▁accept ▁Mr ▁F oster ' s ▁advice ▁in ▁all ▁matters ▁rel ating ▁to ▁players ", ▁but ▁confirmed ▁that ▁they ▁would ▁act ▁prompt ly ▁if ▁it ▁became ▁necessary ▁to ▁appoint ▁a ▁manager . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁previous ▁season , ▁ 1 5 0 0 ▁new ▁tip - up ▁seats ▁had ▁been ▁installed ▁and ▁the ▁ter rac ing ▁in ▁front ▁of ▁the ▁grand stand ▁completely ▁renov ated . ▁Over ▁the ▁close ▁season , ▁the ▁pitch ▁was ▁re pl anted ▁and ▁res eed ed . ▁ ▁Player ▁depart ures ▁included ▁goal keeper ▁Frank ▁C lack ▁and ▁half - back s