In the following campaign, Akademik finished their debut A PFG season in 13th place, thus avoiding relegation.

During the 1977–78 season, Akademik had their best Bulgarian Cup run, beating Yantra Gabrovo, Dimitrovgrad, Benkovski Isperih and Slavia Sofia before losing to Marek Dupnitsa in the semi-finals.

In the league, the club won just nine games and were relegated, thus ending their two-year maiden stint in the elite.

Seven years later, they won a second promotion to the top division by winning the B PFG.

However, next year the team’s form dropped severely and the club was relegated once more after two seasons in the top level.