Following their relegation after the previous Nationalliga A season the club's priority aim was to return immediately to the top flight of Swiss football.

Scottish ex-international Gordon Smith moved home to Scotland and joined Stirling Albion before ending his football career.

The club's financial problems had worsened during the previous season, this also due to the sinking number of spectators.

The experienced players Andre Rindlisbacher transferred in from Aarau, Rolf Baumann from VfB Stuttgart, Mario Moscatelli from St. Gallen and Lucio Esposito from Luzern.

For example Michael Syfrig, who had played a big role in the promotion of FC Glarus the previous season, signed in on his first professional contract.

Further Beat Aebi came from FC Volketswil, Kurt Spirig came from Diepoldsau and Patrick Liniger was brought from the youth team.

In the fifth, sixth and seventh round Basel lost the two away games against Lausanne-Sports 1–4 and St. Gallen 0–3, as well as the home match against local rivals Old Boys 0–1, therefore losing very valuable points.

Basel ended the group with just 19 scored goals and just 14 obtained points in fourth position and thus they missed promotion.

[4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.