Birmingham City were relegated yesterday afternoon but were falling farther by the evening. David Sullivan, the plc chairman, announced his departure after his two children were driven to tears by fans approaching with “hatred in their eyes”, while David Gold, the co-owner, said that he will resign as the football club chairman if the minority chanting for the board to be sacked grew to a majority.

As the goals rained in, the Tilton Road end broke out into a muted cry of “sack the board”. Gold, Sullivan and Karren Brady, the managing director, looked aghast. But the fans’ reaction was more to do with the mismanagement of last year’s failed takeover bid by Carson Yeung.

Birmingham were relegated for the second time in three seasons, yet the victory was sufficient to make for a carnival atmosphere among a majority of supporters, thousands of whom cavorted on the St Andrew’s pitch.

Gold, however, reported that he and Sullivan were abused at close quarters. “We had to get the boys out,” Gold said. “For a moment we thought there was a real danger. I understand the disappointment of relegation. We have been there on a number of occasions, but never, never have we seen large sections of fans being abusive.

“We are talking about a minority — but is that six, a hundred, or a thousand? Because if it’s a majority, I’ll be forced to resign as chairman of the football club. That’s not to say I’d give up my responsibilities to the staff and the good fans of Birmingham City who have stood by us these 15 years.”

Sullivan was in no mood for such circumspection. “These people don’t know anything about business and nothing about football,” he said. “I’ve had enough. I don’t want to be here next season. Please buy me out, David. There’s five or six clubs out there who would welcome me with open arms. It’s time to move on to another club.”Alex McLeish, the manager, may be the only figure remaining at St Andrew’s at this rate.

James McFadden was injured in the warm-up and Cameron Jerome came back into the squad. On as a substitute, he scored twice — after laying claim to the miss of the season after shooting over an open goal from four yards — to bring Birmingham their first win in six matches after Morten Gamst Pedersen had equalised David Murphy’s fortuitous opener.

Fabrice Muamba headed in Mehdi Nafti’s cross deep into added time to wrap up a victory that Birmingham, in other circumstances, might have been proud to celebrate. Relegation, abusive fans and two melodramatic chairmen meant otherwise.

Birmingham City (4-4-2): M Taylor 8 – S Kelly 7, R Jaidi 5, L Ridgewell 5, D Murphy 6 – S Larsson 7, F Muamba 5, D Johnson 4 (sub: M Nafti, 73min), O Kapo 6 (sub: G McSheffrey, 87) – M Zárate 7, M Forssell 5 (sub: C Jerome, 69 6). Substitutes not used: C Doyle, S Parnaby. Booked: Johnson, Larsson, Ridgewell.

Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): B Friedel 4 – S Reid 5, C Samba 6, R Nelsen 6, S Warnock 6 (sub: B McCarthy, 81) – D Bentley 5, B Emerton 6, J Vogel 5 (sub: D Dunn, 67 6), M G Pedersen 5 (sub: Tugay Kerimoglu, 67 5) – J Roberts 7, R Santa Cruz 6. Substitutes not used: J Brown, Z Khizanishvili. Booked: Roberts, Santa Cruz.

Referee: H Webb
Attendance: 26,668

End-of-term report

Birmingham

Season’s summary: Relegated as expected.
How to improve: Retain the nucleus of the side.
Player of season: Stephen Kelly.

Blackburn

Season’s summary: Moved up a notch from last season.
How to improve: Coax Benni McCarthy back to his best to form an attacking partnership with Roque Santa Cruz.
Player of season: David Bentley.