Birmingham City: Relegation could scupper Leeds United deal that felt a no-brainer - View | OneFootball

Birmingham City head into the final match of the Championship season with their status as a second tier side hanging in the balance.

The Blues find themselves in the bottom three with 90 minutes of football left to play in the current campaign, knowing they realistically need a victory on the final day against Norwich City to give themselves any hope of survival.

The St. Andrew’s side sit one point behind Plymouth Argyle ahead of the end-of-season showdown, but with the Pilgrims’ goal difference being four goals better, only a heavy defeat for the Devon side coupled with a City draw against the Canaries could secure safety if the victory isn’t earned.

Dropping into the third tier will massively effect City’s transfer dealings for the following campaign, and one player who will more than likely not return to the Midlands would be Leeds United loanee Cody Drameh.

Cody Drameh impresses for Birmingham City despite Championship relegation struggles

Drameh has been Mr. Versatile for the Midlands side this season, popping up on both flanks of the defensive line when needed for a number of different managers.

The wide man’s tenacity has caught they eye in a difficult season for everybody at St Andrew’s, and has established himself as a top operator at Championship level after a series of efficient performances.

Featuring in just 29 matches of the current Championship season, you can’t help but think that if the former Luton Town loanee was available for more fixtures, Birmingham wouldn’t be in the position they currently find themselves in, such is his influence when he gets a run in the side.

A solid presence when out of possession, the young defender's performances will have been assuring for his side, as he rarely puts a foot wrong when repelling opposition attacks, while his athleticism when going forward offers a constant threat on whichever flank he is operating on.

A season fighting relegation wouldn’t have been what Drameh had in mind following the previous campaign in which he helped the Hatters to promotion to the Premier League, with rumours of a move away from Elland Road to the top flight circulating last summer.

A return to Kenilworth Road was mooted, as well as a potential switch to Turf Moor to join Burnley, but instead the defender opted for the Midlands; although things haven’t got as planned for Birmingham after a season of turmoil.

After starting the season with John Eustace at the helm, the new ownership group at St Andrew’s opted to bring in Wayne Rooney to oversee first-team matters, with the former Manchester United man having a disastrous spell in charge.

Two wins from 15 matches in charge saw the ex-Derby County boss axed after less than two months in the dugout in the Midlands, as the Blues started to slip into the nether regions of the second division; a slide that continues to this day.

Tony Mowbray’s appointment looked to be a shrewd bit of business, only for the former Sunderland boss needing to take time away from the game for medical reasons, leaving City turning to former boss Gary Rowett to steer the ship for the remaining games of the season.

Having four managers over the course of a campaign is never a formula for success at any football club, and Birmingham have indeed looked like a team without a driving force and sense of direction for some time now, with a minor miracle needed on the final day of the season to keep them in the division.

Everyone at St. Andrew’s on Saturday will be turning their minds back to the final day of 2014, when Paul Caddis’ stoppage time equaliser saved City from a similar fate a decade ago, and will be hoping for something similar against Norwich this Saturday.

Cody Drameh's Leeds United contract information

After spending four years associated with Elland Road but making only 10 appearances, Drameh’s time at Elland Road will be coming to an end this summer, with the Yorkshire side said to be opting against offering him a new deal at the club.

That news will leave plenty of Championship clubs on red alert heading into the summer, with the defender likely to be snapped up by a side with loftier ambitions than fighting relegation in the second tier.

The 22-year-old has shown in his various loan spells away from Leeds that he is a capable performer in the EFL, and top-half Championship clubs will see him as a valuable commodity to make their own ahead of the following campaign getting underway.

If City’s relegation is confirmed on Saturday, they can all but wave goodbye to seeing Drameh in a Blues shirt again, with the calibre of his performances showing he is a step above League One football, and has a promising career ahead of him in the Football League and beyond.