Burnham wouldn’t have said anything at all unless someone was leaning on him. He’s up to his neck in this.
(Although I suppose you can’t discount him just acting like a bitter blue.)
I don’t think it would have been possible for them to build up without cheating. You’re right that we came back from the brink of bankruptcy but our business fundamentals (as growler would say) would always be far ahead of theirs.
I always knew City would be City, and f*** everything up. Tbf it’s taken longer than I thought it would. But the sooner they are back in the third flight the better.