Chekov wrote:
It has only been clear to me in retrospect quite how bad our financial position was (and incidentally why settling with Sh*ff Utd may have been the only option given that it now seems possible that a punitive damages ruling could have meant administration).
If we stay up this season (and I think we will, mainly because quite a few other clubs seem to be struggling both financially and on the pitch) then we will have been very lucky.
Our survival will probably come down to the fact that we continue to develop good youngsters allowing us to absorb a certain amount of player sales.
The Sheff Utd settlement was shocking, I think its also possible that as well as the timing of it being influenced by our weakness and fear rather than a belief we would loose, the value of the settlement and payment terms of it, were based on increases in turnover from Sky , sponsorship, etc. So although its real money, it was effectivley not making our position worse (just giving away future money that would have made it better)
It does seem that few other clubs have progressed. Sunderland aside it would be hard to name a club who finished bellow us who have had a strongly positive summer. I also think that 10 or so game run after Zola took over wherein he was remodelling the team and style handicapped our final points tally. This season we have other handicaps (no RB. few strikers), but Zola is already on a roll.
I think had Zola had a full pre-season and season last year we would have got better results in Sep/Oct/Nov
If we do survive, the statute commemerating it should have Zola, Clarke, and SD hoisting Carr aloft.