Despite Preston's lowly position, the team have been in every game this season and a couple more points would have seen the club in mid-table similar to this time last season.
I can only go back on past experiences but this team seems significantly better than the one relegated from the Championship last time under Ferguson and latterly Brown. The problem is that the Championship has changed significantly since then.
Hemmings took over sole ownership of the club as Preston slid into League One. We are all grateful for wiping the debts owed to him which were rumoured to be anywhere between £15 - 30 million accumulated over a number of years.
The aim of returning to the Championship took 4 years but was completed under Simon Grayson. The issue is that the league has changed considerably since that point.
When Preston were last in the Championship and often contending in the play offs they were doing so on a small budget. Healy was and still is the record signing back in 2000. The fee of over £1m has not been neared since then despite several close calls on promotion.
North End were contending with clubs who were capable of buying players for £2 - 3 million. The board at the time took the option not to blow money on transfer fees and Preston remained competitive.
The issue is that now Hemmings has control he points to the fact we are debt free and will not load money on transfer fees. If he was unwilling to pile money up for Billy Davies he certainly isn't going to do so for Simon Grayson.
Therein lies the problem. An owner who has a perogative of keeping a health business afloat without spending big. This is admirable but given the current plight of the league, Preston will at best be struggling to finish higher than the 11th of last term.
It is clear to all that Preston lack a Championship class striker. These can cost several million and Preston are just not willing to invest. The only time investment has come in the past is when the club neared relegation.
The club want to inest in training facilities fit for the top flight. This is all well and good although is really a smoke screen for Hemmings to use land he owns to make a profit as he has to use part of the land for sporting purposes.
It seems that Preston are stuck in a cycle. Without investment they will not be competitive at the top end of the division. They say the reward is £100 million for promotion. Whether this figure is accurate or not Hemmings would rather have the only debt free club in the Championship rather than speculating to accumulate.
It appears for the considerable future North End will be fighting at the lower end of the Championship table until they accumulate experience and investment.