The key to being able to compete then, is to secure parachute payments. For that we need to first gain promotion (even if we go straight back down again). And for that we need to attract and retain players to enable us to navigate through the play-offs. Could turn out to be be a blessing in...
Given the number of season ticket holders the club has, and the number of pies and pints consumed, there must be something seriously wrong with the basic business model then. Short of substantially raising ticket prices, there wouldn't seem to be a lot of leeway for bumping up the revenue...
Even if we are, unless there's a radical re-think in the wage structure, we're unlikely to retain any future stars. We'll go back to being a feeder club for Norwich.