Aye and in years preceding that we played at a ramshackle, un-compliant ground, we finished 2nd bottom saved by Airdrie Mk.1's demise and had, in some folks opinion, a complete bam managing us and played at illustrious Ochilview over that period while the club worked out a portakabin!
We still managed to sign some cracking players who weren't always the finished article.
Aye footballers want success but most want to pay the bills - Being part of successful teams makes that part easier - and some need minutes or a chance somewhere else and take it regardless of the club's stature at the time.
Folk dismissing the timing of Holt's departure as long as he's gone are glossing over the fact he must've put in the legwork of scouting and talking to clubs about players and produced something - speculating that it was more potentially poor signings also overlooks that we still haven't signed anyone that the manager thought was better and immediately available.
Hopefully we sign a few very soon.