So who stepped up to the next level? I'll narrow it down to 'since the Premier League began'. Even though FFP and other restrictions have been implemented since.

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

I can think of at least two people who might think he should (besides a fair number of posters on this site who no doubt can speak for themselves) - Hodgson himself and Steve Parish. Why Parish?
Because Hodgson simply gets on with the job with the players he's given and keeps the team up with minimal signings. I suspect that once we are safe or nearly safe Parish will offer Hodgson another year. This will continue until the existing U18s are developed sufficiently for one or more of them to be ready for the first team. Either that or until:
1. Hodgson feels he can no loner do the job or
2. the US owners sell out and we have new owners who are willing to invest but will want a different manager.

For me it's not a question of stepping up to the 'next level.'
For me our form over the last year have not been good enough in terms of results or performances.
I accept the fact that for many fans it's still enough to merely stay up.
I just happen to have a different opinion.
We have shown on occasions that we are capable of playing decent football without it meaning heavy defeats.
It's not as if boring football is getting us great results.
Parish has often stated that he knows no reason why we should not be on a level footing with clubs outside of the big 6.
Aspiration is good as long as it's realistic.
The real crime is to aim low and miss.

Yep. But on this thread, it will be seen as negative. Ergo, "Roy out". Only a win is not enough now. We need to be winning easily. These teams are "for the taking".

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

That is the next level lol, it's called consistency.

Unless the US investors or SP are going to set aside significant investment, I would prefer we stayed with Roy.

I feel Roy is the scapegoat for everything behind the scenes.

When he took over, the club was in a f***ing mess. The club had accrued huge debt and massive wages. We had just paid a manager 3 years salary for 10 weeks work and started the season losing four games in a row.

Nevertheless, Roy has kept us competitive and despite limited funding, the club is in much better shape. We have had the odd mini scare but we have been comfortably safe throughout his tenure.

He could of walked, but just gets on with it. I mean what other manager would accept a rb being sold for 50m but then not replaced. I mean, scandalous.

We have 13-14 players out of contract (not Roy’s fault), yet Roy is tasked with motivating these players to keep them in the league.

Of all the 20 prem teams, it has to be one of the least attractive jobs. If there is just 10-15m made available in summer, what do we expect.

How can anyone realistically see us pushing on when we are doing the bare minimum,

Apart from Eze, our transfer strategy is ‘mainly’ to buy washed up players on the cheap (or free) with the ‘last chance you’ philosophy. Some do well, some not so well.

For me, it’s stick with Roy. Enjoy the premier league until fans can come back in and hope the Americans sell up soon.