 They eventually finished seventh, which was their highest finish since 1978, but the side was ageing by this time and many supporters felt that the club were not achieving their potential.Coventry replaced a number of players during the 1989 close-season, buying defender Peter Billing and acquiring Liverpool's Kevin MacDonald on a free transfer, with David Phillips and Steve Sedgley leaving the club.John Sillett felt that there was a bubble in the transfer market at the time and declined to spend large amounts of money on players despite having funds available.