[drewks]

I too think the owners / footballing staff have done a really good job with their wheeling an dealing. Not just this summer, but last year too.

Patel bought the club with us in financial disarray. It was clear that we had to dramatically reduce the wage bill and sell pretty much anyone of worth (the few that we had). As a result, I feared the worst.

I think it speaks volumes that we've lost so many players (both at the end of their contracts and sales) and yet, we're still able to put a decent team out.

To put things into perspective, just since last summer we lost Cedric Kipre, Semi Ajayi, Kyle Bartley, Matty Phillips, John Swift and Grady Diangana for nothing. They were all established players.

In addition, we've sold Okay Yokuslu, Connor Townsend, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Alex Palmer, Caleb Taylor, Darnell Furlong, Torbjørn Heggem and Tom Fellows. Collectively, they've probably pulled in £30-£35m in transfer fees.

But for almost everyone who has left, the owners have had replacements in mind. On most occasions, costing a fraction of what we have pulled in from sales.

Heggam goes, Phillips joins. Taylor goes, Mepham joins. Furlong goes, Gilchirst joins. They just seem to know what they are doing.

Selling Connor Townsend and buying Torbjørn Heggem sums up their good work. Getting money for an average journeyman and replacing him with a young international who has gone on to make the club millions.

Other players bought are young up and comers who could go on to actually have transfer value - Mikey Johnston, Issac Price, Arne Heggebo and so on.

Obviously I don't want us to become a selling club, but the transfer policy we operated under previous ownership was not sustainable.

Even the experienced players that we have signed - Mepham, Beilik - are not old and have come for below their market value IMO.

It was clear from the first few games that we needed a left back alternative to Callum Styles. They got Charlie Taylor in, a player who has been there and done it.

We sold Fellows and they got Illing-Junior in, a player who played the full 90 mins for Juventus when they won the Coppa Italia in 23/24.

If I was being critical, it would've been nice to see us bring a goalkeeper and a creative player in. Alex Palmer is the one departure who was never really replaced. Tammer Bany was bought as a creative last year, but hasn't maintaned any fitness.

But all in all, they've done a great job.

When you look at the outgoings, we really shouldn't expect much this season. Mid-table safety would be quite the achievement when you look at how we've had to balance the books. If we're able to challenge for the playoffs, it'll be quite the achievement.

Slick, you've put the detail in that (I think) few of us would be able to, without spending a week in front of a laptop!
Seriously, it's made it crystal clear, what the club has HAD to do; massive credit to the owners, backroom boys and RM, who I think deserves the most, as he's obviously agreed to this amazingly tricky balancing act in his first HC position, FFS!
He must be bonkers!!