In fact they are stronger because of it.
Jay Bothroyd, expected to be fit to face Deportivo on Saturday after an arm injury, said "Adversity can often galvanise a team."
His playing partner Chris Burke elaborated further.
"I don't think what's going on at the club off the pitch is really affecting us in any way," Burke told The Echo.
"We just go about our business as usual.
"We are paid to concentrate on matters on the pitch and to do our jobs. All the rest is very much something for the manager. I'm just here to play football.
"From a player's perspective, we are focussed on what we can do on the pitch and it's not for us to worry about things like transfer embargoes.
"Honestly, as a squad, we are the same as we were last season and the season before that. We are a strong unit.
"We are a team. We are a family. We live and breathe each other. We eat together., we sometimes sleep together. Not in that way, but you know what I mean!
"We are together. In fact, I think, we are more together as a team now than we were last season because of what happened."
As Burke says it's basically the same first team bar two players at the moment. Joe Ledley and Mark Kennendy are the two senior players missing. The other who were released were squad members anyway.
In Adam Matthews City have a capable full back to play with Kevin McNaughton and Paul Quinn. On loan Danny Drinkwater appears to be a willing midfielder who could make a mark on the Championship this season.
Gavin Rae also believes the club can do it again.
"We have the players and, with the backing of supporters, which is crucial, we can give it a right go."
This squad got to within 90 mins of the Premier League. Can Dave Jones and his squad repeat last seasons heroics? Less than two weeks now before the new season kicks off.