Kammala jumlar mai zuwa: Na rabin karni, City ta kasance a cikin rukuni biyu na Football League a ƙarƙashin maye gurbin manajoji har zuwa 1980s ya kawo ci gaba a cikin ƙungiyar. An nada tsohon dan wasan Ingila Roy McFarland a matsayin mai horar da 'yan wasa a shekarar 1981, wanda ya kawo nasara nan take tare da ci gaba daga Division Four a 1981-82. Amma ya tafi a cikin rikice-rikice zuwa Derby County, don maye gurbin wani dan wasan Ingila Trevor Cherry a matsayin mai kula da 'yan wasa daga abokan hamayyarsa Leeds United. Cherry ya kula da wani lokaci mai rikici a kulob din, wanda ya hada da City ya shiga cikin rushewa a shekarar 1983, taken Division Three a 1984-85 da kuma
mummunar gobara a ranar 11 ga Mayu 1985. Shi ne kawai na uku manajan City lashe kofin.