Mirror: Big clubs' monopoly means Southampton could do nothing to prevent this exodus

We finisher 8th cos we were best of the rest, out points total was closer to relegation than CL. Of the teams above us spurs sacked 2 managers and Utd were a total shambles but still finished well above us. Without levels of spending that would not be allowed under FFP there is no way we could attracted the type of players required to make up those extra 4 places and even if we did get there the bigger clubs would still buy our best players. Just look at athletico madrid and Dortmund, in recent years both have won their leagues and made the CL final but still they get raided for their best players.

 

Yes, the article is right. The best the board could realistically do was get as much money as they could.