The glass ceiling that has up till recently protected the same four clubs from the rest appears to have briefly been shattered for a few new entrants.
But while the likes of Spurs and Manchester City have used the hefty weight of hard cash to burst their way through into the Premier League elite, upon their arrival the glass has been refitted and strengthened behind them, leaving their opponents out in the cold.
From the big four we now have the big six, and while there are only so many Champions League places to go round such is the financial muscle of those sides they aren't going to have their futures put at risk by not being in the competition for a few seasons. The odds for Premier League winner suggest only a handful of club can challenge for the title, and success can come a huge price.
For the rest, without either the huge turnover or the benefit of a super rich sugar daddy prepared to make losses they have to somehow try and bridge the financial gap in a league where money dictates all.
Sunderland are the latest club to be faced with tough financial decisions. On the pitch things are going well, the investment in the playing squad has brought about improvement in league results and the club look well set for a top eight finish.
But that relative success comes at a cost – a £28million cost – funded by owner Ellis Short.
It is the second year in a row that Short has had to make up for Sunderland's losses and is another example of how success can only be achieved by spending money a club doesn't have, anyone following the football betting will probably know this.
Randy Lerner at Villa swallowed similar losses before looking to tighten the purse strings last summer. It was only Martin O'Neill's resignation and their slump in league form that persuaded him to part with the cash for Darren Bent.
Everton borrowed more year-on-year to give David Moyes funds to improve the squad but the best he could achieve was two fifth place finishes. The past two seasons has seen Moyes fail to make a net spend ie he had to sell before he can buy, resulting in an inevitable drop in league position.
Sunderland are perhaps were Everton were a few seasons ago - though they do have the benefit of a rich owner like Ellis Short. However, he may not want to pay for the club's losses forever.
But in this money-takes-all Premier League world any cost cutting would result in a drop in results.
It's make losses and succeed on the pitch (with no guarantee of making it into the top six/four) or cut your cloth accordingly and sink into mediocrity.
It's no wonder some fans turning their back on the game.
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