They competed in the 24-team Division Two, then the third tier of English league football, finishing third, their highest league finish since the 1976–77 season.
They made the end-of-season play-offs, but lost to Chris Kamara's Bradford City at the semi-finals stage.
They won the first leg 2–0, but lost 3–0 in the return leg at Bloomfield Road, a result that cost Sam Allardyce his job, in his second season.
In 2020, Andy Preece stated that the majority of the playing staff suffered a major dose of complacency after the first leg of the semi-final.
"[1] Tony Ellis was the club's top scorer in the league for the second consecutive season, tied with Andy Preece on fourteen goals apiece.