Enjoyed the read. As a newer fan, I know next to nothing about the financials of football (basically what I've picked up in FIFA and FM), but you did a good job filling in the back story.
I do find it odd that only now has the player wages situation come to the forefront. This isn't a problem that was thrust upon Randy and MON, because, as you mentioned, the wage bill has tripled since 2007. Did no one notice that the salaries were unsustainable before May (or whenever the rumoured meeting was, I assume this topic might have come up)? (Relatively) expensive players were kept on through at least the January window for... cover? Not to get another shot to prove themselves in the team, that's for certain.
I suppose it's possible that MON has been trying to sell certain players all along and has found no takers (would bode ominously). I wouldn't get too hung up over the transfer fee with certain players, as they aren't likely to gain in value while sitting on the bench, burning through their contracts. No time like the present.
If there was a method, the only one I can come up with is that the club is using inflated wages as an incentive to counter the location and/or prestige of the Big 4 and others. Dangerous game, especially when buying on potential rather than proven worth. And then there's (apparently) Heskey and his 60k.
