Huddersfield Town used Premier League parachute payments to agree last summer's takeover - leaving them behind a financial eight ball.
The Terriers published their accounts on Thursday, in which it was confirmed that former owner and lifelong supporter Dean Hoyle must be paid a minimum £35million over the next two years.
Hoyle relinquished majority control of the Championship club last May, handing over the reins to fellow supporter and local businessman Phil Hodgkinson.
Rumbling fears that the deal was based on parachute payments after relegation from the top tier were confirmed on Thursday.