So, in short, not a "joke club" at all, however they've done it. And quite a row back from your post that their record was similar before.
You seem fond of idioms. Here's another; there's more than one way to skin a cat.
You said they were a joke club. Their natural place in the football pecking order is probably as a mid table Championship side. They're exceeding that.
And Union SG is definitely a glass house.
They've had 17 COACHES in the last ten years. That's how it works there.
They're not us under Archer, they consistently play in the Prem or win promotion back to it.
Really?
On small crowds in a ramshackle stadium in a very unfashionable town they seem to be no worse off than Leeds or Norwich or West Brom in reality.
The Brighton way isn't the only way.