1972/73:

The expensive squad built during the preceding two years leads to financial problems in Austria's 40th anniversary season. The club faces debts of 10.5 million Austria shillings. A sponsorship deal with ‘Gerngross’ is signed which leads to the change of the official club name SV Austria Salzburg to ‘SV Gerngross A. Salzburg’. The protests of supporters fall on deaf ears. The money from the deal is used to pay back the debts. Ultimately, Austria Salzburg finishes a disappointing seventh place and average attendances fall from 8700 (1971/72) to 4400.
 

1973-1975:

Guenther Praschak returns to Austria Salzburg. He takes over from the unpopular Erich Hof. Money is still a problem and some players have to be sold. The club finishes eighth in the Austrian first division but makes it to the finals of the Austrian Cup after beating Bregenz, Bludenz, Eisenstadt, Donawitz and Wacker Innsbruck. The first leg against Vienna's Austria Wien is lost 1:2. Hala scores in the return leg on home soil but an own goal by Filzmoser shatters the dream of winning the Austrian Cup.
 

1975/76:

Austria plays one of its best seasons – finishing 4th – and qualifies for the UEFA-CUP despite having to allow Grosser, Kibler and Hirnschrodt to leave the club.
 

1976/77:

Probably the most unexpected and unpredictable season in Salzburg’s history. Hansi Reich, a former pupil of Max Merkel, leads the club back to the top of the league and after 10 games Salzburg is in second position with 12 points (2 points for a win) just one point behind leaders Innsbruck. After 18 games and still 12 points Salzburg is bottom of the table and remains there until the end of the season, and is thus relegated. Salzburg makes it to the second round of the UEFA Cup for the first time in the club's history although the first leg in Turkey against Adanaspor is lost 0:2. In the return leg in Salzburg the home side wins 5:0 and faces Red Star Belgrade in the second round. A record crowd of 18,000 at the stadium in Lehen witnesses a sensational 2:1 victory after being one goal down. 23 supporters accompany the team to Belgrade although nobody really believes in success. Red Star wins the game 1:0 with help of the English referee ‘Taylor’ (according to newspapers). Prior to the start of the Second Division Austria Salzburg takes part in the six-team tournament in South America where they beat Pele's FC SANTOS by 1:0 and finish at the second ahead of Everton, Colo-Colo and River Plate.
 

1977/78:

Salzburg wins automatic promotion. Guenther Praschak leaves again and Karl Kirchberger is appointed as Salzburg's new chairman. Salzburg manages to get to the semi-finals of the Austrian Cup were they are defeated by VOEST Linz.
 

1978/79:

In the meantime Salzburg has become a financially sound proposition and manages to sign a sponsorship deal with the respected Austrian Casinos company. Unfortunately, the club has to pay a high price for it. The official club name is changed again, but this time "Austria" disappears completely and the new official name is ‘SV Casino Salzburg’. Nevertheless, supporters still refer to the club as their ‘Austria’. The club finishes mid-table (6th) due to poor away performances.
 
1979/80: ‘The Austria’ again finishes 6th and for the second time in its history reaches the Austrian Cup final after beating Bregenz, Sturm Graz, Wolfsberg and St.Veit. Salzburg loses 2:1 on aggregate despite a 1:0 victory (Leo Weiss scores) against Austria Vienna. The first leg at Lehen is witnessed by a disappointing crowd of just 7000. Vienna's goals were scored by Schachner and Gasselich.
 

1980/81:

Despite losing the cup final the club is allowed to play in the Cup Winners Cup because Austria Vienna wins the Austrian championship. The performance against Germany's Fortuna Duesseldorf is a disgrace. The team loses the first leg in Lehen by three goals and the return leg 0:5. League performances are also very poor and coach Rudolf Strittich is replaced by Gustl Starek and relegation is avoided. Victories over Wattens, Vorwaerts Steyr and LASK Linz help to secure a place in the Austrian Cup final for the second time in as many years. The team loses again in the final, this time against Graz AK after extra time.
 

1981/82:

Joschi Obert's Austria finishes one place above the bottom on goal difference but relegation is no cause for concern due to the re-introduction of 16-team division (formerly only 10 teams). Leo Lainer leaves Austria Salzburg for Rapid Vienna, as does Hermann Stadler the following year.
 

1982/83:

After a poor start to the season coach Obert decides to bring back the banned Hannes Winkelbauer. The 35-year-old Winkelbauer leads the team to the 5th place of the table. The most remarkable performance of the season is a 1:0 victory at Austria Vienna. Lack of money means that the team has to travel to Vienna on the same day at 4 o'clock in the morning.
 

1983/84:

An average season is completed in 10th place. Karl Kirchberger is replaced by Rudolf Quehenberger who takes on responsibility for the growing debt of 12 million Austrian shillings.
 

1984/85:

The highest Austrian division is reduced from 16 to 12 teams and Salzburg is one of the victims of this reform. A 15th league position leads to relegation and 4 years of second division football. Salzburg’s other team (SAK) is promoted to the first division in the same year.
 

1985-1988:

Apart from the local derbies against Salzburg AK and USV (later FC) Salzburg, the years in the second division are without highlights and quite miserable. Disappointing performances and growing debts lead to a plan to merge with SAK. Fortunately, the SAK executive committee votes against the fusion. Attendance is still good and as many as 12,000 fans are drawn to Lehen. One of the main attractions during that time is the young native of the county of Salzburg, Heimo Pfeifenberger, who is transferred to Rapid Vienna in 1988.