dᵻspˈaɪt nˌɑːt fˈɪnaɪzɪŋ ɪnðə ɹᵻlɡˈeɪʃən spˈɑːts, ðə lˈaɪənz wɜː ɹˈɛlᵻɡˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌmðə tˈɑːp flˈaɪt fɚðə fˈɜːst tˈaɪm ɪn twˈɛnti jˈɪɹz æt ðə kəŋklˈuːʒən ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti nˈaɪn sˈiːzən dˈuː tʊ ˈɔffˈiːld dɪspjˈuːts, ænd ɹᵻmˈeɪnd ðɛɹ ʌntˈɪl wˈɪnɪŋ pɹəmˈoʊʃən bˈæk ɪnðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd tˈuː sˈiːzən.
Despite not finising in the relgation spots, the Lions were relegated from the top flight for the first time in 20 years at the conclusion of the 1999 season due to off-field disputes, and remained there until winning promotion back in the 2002 season.