 Several top players, including Bourton, were sold, as City sought to pay off its debts and balance the books, which led to some fan dissatisfaction.There was little transfer activity in the summer of 1939, due to the deteriorating political situation in Europe and the 1939–40 league season was aborted after only a few games with the start of World War II.Many fans at the time believed that the war had robbed the team of a probable promotion to the first division, although there was some evidence that the team was already beginning to decline by 1939.