I appreciate all the insights from Buzz and others. I am just hoping that the punishments are not insuperable, and are limited to the next 3 years. I am also hoping that it leads to necessary management changes - the CEO surely has to go, just for not sacking Rudkin, if nothing else.
The core problem is that the First Team players acquired in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 have so far proved both poor, expensive in wages, and unsaleable for worthwhile money, with the exception of Fofana, and I suppose Castagne:
2019 - Justin, Perez, Tielemans, Praet
2020 - Castagne, Fofana
2021 - Daka, Soumare, Bertrand, Vestegaard
2022 - Faes, Kristiansen, Souttar (the latter two bought Jan 2023)
The recruitment has been shockingly poor - blame Rodgers, Congerton and Rudkin
Contrast that with Brighton, who in 2022/3 financial year sold Cucurella, Trossard, Bissouma and Macallister for very big money (plus Caicedo in the current financial year), yet without suffering a dip below mid table, and now full of good young new recruits, mainly from S America.