^^ time will tell and I suspect you're right exactly for the reasons you've given. I am just saying I can see why they've done it and perhaps it isn't as crazy as it seems at first.
Sorry to state the obvious, but from the owners perspective, they really, REALLY don't want to get relegated. No guarantees of a return any time soon in an extremely difficult league. Losing to Norwich (and the manner of that performance, which was absolutely dire and their worst of the season)...