Why is a top six budget unrealistic? Mansfield have a far bigger budget than us on much lower gates. So do a bunch of other clubs. Hardly any clubs break even at this level, or at any level for that matter. It all comes down to how deep the owners' pockets are.
If our owners aren't wealthy enough for us to have a top-six budget in L2, we'll be stuck at this level for quite a while, even if they are smart with the funds they have.