It was an absolute mess between 2004-8 tbh but we didn't have a pot to piss in, the hangover from itv digital going pop was definitely still lingering and the players weren't among the divisions highest earners by and large.. I do think that period is perversely looked at through rose tinted specs at times though, now is objectively worse and the players way more dislikable, but it was still really really shit going to watch us back then..
The starkest differences now to then is the division in the fanbase and the fact that swathes of fans are actually, and rightly taking aim at the higher ups..