It's pretty much always been the case. I'm fairly sure that when we were actually good and won stuff we had spent a chunk and
@Saff will be able to confirm a memory of mine that Sunderland had some rich name when they won the title numerous times in the early 20th century as they'd thrown money around to do it. If we want to strip titles for it I suspect it would cast a shadow over many of the winners for the past 100+ years (not all i accept).
ps. just noticed
@Big Ern pretty much said this in his post I've quoted. Oh well, I'm sticking to it.