 He switched to Birmingham City in December 1984, after Don Mackay replaced Gould as the boss at Coventry.Having helped relegate the "Blues" the previous season, Platnauer then helped Ron Saunders to bring top-flight football back to St Andrew's with promotion out of the Second Division in 1984–85.Finding the competition for first team places greater in the 1985–86 season, Platnauer joined Reading on loan in January 1986, after Saunders was sacked and replaced by John Bond.