I think the goal is to achieve what you've described above, but there is some recognition that it can't be done this season, so there has been some recourse to journeymen and imports. If we're still doing it at the same level in years 2 and 3, I'll start to worry.

I accept we kept our place in SL at Cas thanks to overseas players and from my memory there was Rooney + 1 gb player in the first 13 and if not for them we would be in oblivion. In fairness to those players, it meant a lot to them as well.(what was the team that day anyone?)
Last year, with minimal funds, we unearthered Johnson and Mariano who now look to have good prospects for an SL future. Mariano was way back behind 10 or more overseas players at HKR and their fans will see this as a big loss.

I understand the thought process, but who will be our Johnson/ Mariano from this seasons signings.
If SL clubs all made a mutual agreement to reduce the numbers, regardless of residency etc, we would still support our teams as it would be a level playing field, bank balances would improve and maybe England.

Wasnt it the Bradford game we only had March, rooney & Griff out of the 18?

I understand what people are saying with respect to building the squad up over a number of years to gradually include less overseas players, but my argument is that there are at least three of the current six and the potential eight overseas players who are not needed right now.

If the club forever looked to get around the loop holes they will never find themselves in a position to reduce its reliance upon them. There will always be an excuse, and there has been since the club made it back into the top flight. The only reason the young kids got their chance last season was down to the financial situation, as soon as the imports could oust them they did, and it could be argued that as they were introduced the performances of the team somewhat waned.

As I said early, drop one of Mellars or Collis, Tony and Southern and would the squad be hugely weakened? I think not.

Southern will be one of our best forwards next year, he is a quality player. I'd have loved Murphy to stay but to sign him would have probably cost what we are paying Mellars & Collis combined, thats the premium put on English players these days, even ones that are far from world beaters like Murphy. So which gives the most value for money to a club that can't spend the full cap yet and can't attract top class internationals? Sorry but the club are going down the only real path available right now to them if we want to be competitive. The difference this time will hopefully be that we have people in charge who know how to build a sustainable business and grow it so in three years time we can start moving down the preferred english player route. Until then we will have to grin and bear it.

I know absolutely nowt about what the players earn but most things boil down to simple economics and so there is probably logic in what you say.