Yup, we were also being bankrolled by Keith Wickenden, who was quite wealthy, but he was killed in a helicopter accident (I think). Bamber talked the talk in relation to finance, but suspect he was in hock to the banks to quite a degree.
From then on it was a slippery slope.
SAme with Palace in the 1970's once good old Arthur (Stand) Wait sold out to Bloye.
Bloye then went down a dodgy road over the Sainsbury's deal and we ended up nearly in the third tier in the mid-80's but saved by our youth policy which produces the South London All-stars.
If Albion can get a similar system going for the South Coast you may be able to get the best youth, it works much better than paying established players megabucks, they're all mercenaries imho.