While Manchester United are, of course, an exception that proves the rule, Glenn knows that West Ham's position is far from unique.
"We crossed that bridge during last season that there weren't transfer funds available but there aren't at many Premiership clubs," he says.
"We are in a position on salaries, though, to be able to bring in a couple of decent players."
Glenn is looking to emulate and surpass last season's achievements, and adds: "We would like to build on that. Our long term goal is to improve each year and to try this season to improve on 53 points, which was an excellent effort when you look back on it."
Glenn feels the competition up front has been strengthened, and says: "We will have to wait and see how the pre-season games go. We have Paolo, Fredi, Jermain, and there is room for another striker to come into the club.
"We have signed young Sofiane and would like to think he is at the stage Defoe was at this time last year, good enough to start on the bench.
"But with what there is at the club at the moment, with Paolo, Fredi, and Jermain, there is a decent partnership."
More changes are scheduled for the Southend game, with most of the first team squad scheduled to make an appearance.
Of the 3-1 defeat by Leyton Orient on Friday, Glenn says: "Orient did give us a good work out and it was disappointing to concede two late goals in the second half, not to mention on the stroke of half time.
"Paul Brush has got a lot to look to look forward to next year, but from our point of view there was a little bit of inexperience. Young Anton Ferdinand was involved in the second and third goals and he will learn from that.
"No way am I being critical of him; we think he is a real good prospect for us.
"We are not going to lose too much sleep over Friday but of course we would have preferred not to have lost.
"We made 10 changes at half time and you lose some of your rhythm.
"It is good that Jermain got of the mark in the first game and I think it is the sort of goal we will see him score many times in his career.
"But we don't like to lose and it was disappointing to do so with three very late goals. One with the last chance of the first half deep into injury time, and the second and third goals in the last three or four minutes.
"It was the first 45 minutes for all of the players and some are a little bit more ring rusty than others but it obviously gives us a lot to build on in the next few weeks."
A fair smattering of youngsters played in the game at Brisbane Road, and Glenn adds: "Some would not have been given the opportunity so soon, but with us not playing some of the senior players it gave the likes of Anton Ferdinand, James Allen and Billy Mehmet the opportunity to play what was a first team game."
Richard Garcia - the only player to play in both halves on Friday - has recovered from the severe cramp that forced him off on Friday but reports that Youssef Sofiane is playing at Roots Hall on Tuesday are wide of the mark.
Other absentees include John Moncur, Steve Bywater, Trevor Sinclair, David James, Joe Cole, Shaun Byrne, and of course Don Hutchison.
Squad: Van der Gouw, Forde, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Labant, Garcia, Carrick, Cole, Courtois, Kanoute, Di Canio, Pearce, Winterburn, Defoe, Lomas, Ferdinand, Iriekpen, Soma, McCann, Minto, Camara.