The club was bought from the existing 55 shareholders by Milan Mandarić in February 2007. By this stage, they were mid-table in the Championship, too low to mount a promotion challenge but seemingly comfortably clear of relegation. A run of eight games without a win, however, plunged the club back to the fringes of the relegation battle, prompting Mandarić to sack Kelly on 11 April 2007. Nigel Worthington was appointed as manager for the remaining five games of the season, and under his management, a final position of 19th was achieved.