Supporters of Championship clubs will argue that it is one of the most competitive leagues in world football and certainly one of the most difficult from which to escape.
However, this season more than ever before, England's second league has been blighted by a group of clubs with a) rich owners, b) parachute payments, or c) both.
What is especially frightening is how the second tier's spending has increased to Premier League proportions. Although the league remains competitive, the financial divide between clubs in the Championship is continually growing and the chasm is getting wider by the season.