In 1998, the club was taken over from the two brothers by another businessman, Viorel Știube, within 2 years the club knocked on the doors of the promotion to Divizia A. After a 1998–99 solid season ended on the 6th place, under coaches: Viorel Abrudan, Marcel Coraș and Gabi Balint, the club was abandoned again and reached the brink of relegation to the third division at the end of 1999–2000 season, when under coaches Gabi Balint and Costel Orac "the Red and Blues" finished on 14th place, not before being rescued from disaster by Bihor County Council.