Joey Barton has labelled Manchester City's season a failure and called for the club to come up with a spending plan to push them up the Premiership.
"This club and its fans deserve to be at the highest level," the England midfielder told BBC Radio Manchester.
"If I was a fan I wouldn't have paid to watch us at home this season.
"There has to be a plan. Everyone seems to have one in place but at the moment it just feels like this club is praying to get the right players this summer."
The 24-year-old signed a new four-year contract last summer but is frustrated by the limited progress under manager Stuart Pearce this season.
City have failed to score a Premiership goal at home since New Year's Day, and as well as questioning the value for money for the fans, Barton is also sceptical over the club's recruitment policy.
"There is no way Reading have spent more than us and no way Everton have either, but they seem to have overachieved," he added.
"Bolton have not spent big either. I know they paid a lot of money for Nicolas Anelka but we paid a lot for Georgios Samaras - and he's wank, let me tell you.
"You have to face facts. We have not brought quality in. One or two have done all right but not enough to take the team onto the next level.
"We can't gamble on players who have scored six goals in six games in the Pontins League or in Belgium.
"I know a lot of the supporters are umming and ahhing about whether to buy their season tickets.
"They go out and work hard. It is a lot of money to buy a season ticket at our place and they are not getting value for money."
"This club and its fans deserve to be at the highest level," the England midfielder told BBC Radio Manchester.
"If I was a fan I wouldn't have paid to watch us at home this season.
"There has to be a plan. Everyone seems to have one in place but at the moment it just feels like this club is praying to get the right players this summer."
The 24-year-old signed a new four-year contract last summer but is frustrated by the limited progress under manager Stuart Pearce this season.
City have failed to score a Premiership goal at home since New Year's Day, and as well as questioning the value for money for the fans, Barton is also sceptical over the club's recruitment policy.
"There is no way Reading have spent more than us and no way Everton have either, but they seem to have overachieved," he added.
"Bolton have not spent big either. I know they paid a lot of money for Nicolas Anelka but we paid a lot for Georgios Samaras - and he's wank, let me tell you.
"You have to face facts. We have not brought quality in. One or two have done all right but not enough to take the team onto the next level.
"We can't gamble on players who have scored six goals in six games in the Pontins League or in Belgium.
"I know a lot of the supporters are umming and ahhing about whether to buy their season tickets.
"They go out and work hard. It is a lot of money to buy a season ticket at our place and they are not getting value for money."
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