On the verge? But . . .

Strange, isn't it, that Blues could clinch automatic promotion on Sunday and any feelings of euphoria probably wouldn't last long.

Seen it before, done it before, heard it before, know what's coming . . .

The latest comments by David Gold hardly generate confidence that Blues, if they return to the Premier League, will be anything but plucky scrappers.

"I think the question is not how do you stop yourselves from becoming a yo-yo club but how do you stop yourself from becoming a Leeds, Leicester, Charlton or Southampton,"
the chairman said. "That's more important than saying how you become successful."

Revenue will jump to £50 million on promotion and a significant sum of money, quite simply, has to be made available to address the needs of the team and squad.

Blues fans have heard all the arguments about the need to run a tight ship, being 'lean and mean', balancing 'risk and reward'. They understand all that.

Quite frankly, they - we all - need to be inspired. Nobody is asking for an £80 million Sunderland style-splurge, just that the boat is pushed out a little further than the edge of the harbour.

Look at Fulham. They really should have been relegated instead of Blues last season, but their amazing sequence of results and Blues inability to deliver in the big games at the end meant it was Championship football again at St Andrew's.

In the summer they spent £11 million on Andrew Johnson, £4.8 million on Bobby Zamora, got Mark Schwarzer and, coupled with the quality they already had and the blossoming of a shrewd signing like Brede Hangeland, they're being talked of in terms of European qualification.

And let's not even start on Wigan Athletic.

The manager has to be able to identify the right sort of players, and mould them into an effective unit. His judgement has to be spot on, sure.

Steve Bruce did it in 2002, getting Kenny Cunningham, Robbie Savage, Matthew Upson, Aliou Cisse etc. But that was seven years ago; the landscape has changed.

Those equivalent types of players are quite happy filling up squad spaces in the Premier League. You are looking at £5 million - £6 million as a base figure for a decent perfomer
nowadays. It is also harder to 'land' on someone like Christophe Dugarry, and watch the punt pay off.

But this is a debate for if Blues get there. Reading on Sunday has to be negotiated.

The feeling from Wast Hills today was that Blues are not feeling sorry for themselves after Preston North End, rather angry at messing up like they did.

They have another crack at it. Let's hope then not another crack after that too . . . in the play-offs.