The continued stick for the previous ownership

Very true that. And he was being criticised at the start of the season he took over too, following an opening day win, when we stuttered for a while. David Watson was an early scapegoat too. I think the two performances, both defeats as they were, against a stellar Newcastle side in the cup changed the tone of the whole club, much of which carried through to 96/97.

Another similarity with recent times would possibly be his second season 95/96. Perfectly placed to get in the play off mix in March, we had "that match" v Ipswich, and finished the season with something like 2 wins in our last 14 games. Without selling half the team.

Recruitment in the following summer wasn't bad mind.

 

We’re a victim of circumstance.

An owner who was trying to sell the club can’t put proven players on big contracts as it’ll mean there’s less chance of us been bought.

 

Part of me thinks that when I look at our most successful seasons in the nearly 40 years I've watched Barnsley, they've occurred when we've had either some modest injection of cash or a proportionately bigger budget in the division we were in at the time.

Thinking of 78/79 and bringing Allan Clarke in, along with players far better than the level they were playing at, the momentum carrying on through to 81/82. Even 96/97, according to John Dennis' book, pretty much all of the fees received offloading Payton, O'Connell etc was invested in what turned out to be arguably our most successful recruitment. We were also in in an era where the gap between the haves and have nots wasn't anywhere near the scale it is now.

99/00 we had parachute money to draw on, so probably one of the biggest budgets in what's now the Championship. And I think Mansford said we had the 5th or 6th biggest budget in League One when we got promoted most recently.

So whilst I'd criticise some of the previous regimes decisions, I don't doubt their intention or integrity. As a supporter, do I find it deflating that we've gone from stellar football for 12 months to sterile flat performances? Yes, absolutely. Never had it so good? Of course we've had it loads better. But also far far worse, in times where the disparity in budget wasn't as great either. We could also be Sunderland. Are they proof that money doesn't guarantee anything?

So I'm now looking longer term, keen to see what the owners want to do and how much they are prepared to throw at it. Real success won't come cheap. If we are in the same state in 3 years time, bottom of the championship or in League 1, would we want them to sell the club again?

 

Not enough , you constantly repeat that you know summat but do not back it with facts .
Your innuendoes should be shoved up your innuendo .