In July 1955 the entire first team squad was again transferred, this time to SV Vorwärts Cottbus and the remaining rump side disappeared into lower-tier play.

They recovered to make their way back to the 2.DDR-Liga (III) in 1960 and after a division title in 1962 returned to the DDR-Liga (II) where they would remain throughout the decade.

ASG bounced back after a last place finish and relegation in 1970 to win the Bezirksliga Leipzig (III) title in 1970–71.

In 1973, two seasons after their return to second-tier play, they won their division and subsequently took part in a failed Oberliga promotion playoff.

Vorwärts Leipzig regularly took part in the preliminary rounds of the FDGB-Pokal (East German Cup) throughout this period.