Barnsley FC...........footballs equivalent to Pound Land

We don't get anywhere near enough money for our players. Check out the top Championship transfer fees here...

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/championship/transferrekorde/wettbewerb_GB2.html

We can all make excuses but it comes down to bad management. (contract clauses, length of contracts offered etc)
And it's also totally irrelevant to start debating whether the players have gone on to achieve anything after their respective moves.
When they left they were on top form and as you will see in the link, good championship players don't come cheap.