This is a good post and I agree with much of it but

I would point out that there is a difference between saying "all we need is a new rich owner" and what many are saying which is "without a richer owner is going to be incredibly difficult to compete."

Southampton may indeed be a model to look to try and emulate but ultimately their model is still underpinned by the fact they stay in the premier league and thus continue to receive premier league tv monies.

I think people are underestimating just how hard its going to be for us to compete financially once we are in receipt of no parachute payments at all and indeed it could be that in that scenario we are well run yet still find ourselves lower mid table or even fighting relegation to league 1 just because other clubs have moved on financially and we just can't compete in terms of wages.

This is why if we wanted to do this sort of "restructuring" (which I don't disagree with in principle - its right to try and make the club sustainable long term) we really should have done it whilst in the premier league and a position of strength rather than as an after the event reaction to relegation and scr*wing up last season.

Posted By: Jim, Jul 10, 12:12:35