…Bates-era Leeds was depressing for all involved, and I get why that would turn fans away. Plenty of Newcastle fans surrendered season tickets after minimal investment and 2 relegations under Ashley, (which I’m not suggesting was anywhere near comparable)… but by your reckoning, true loyalty can only be demonstrated by surrendering support of the club that’s been a part of your life since you were a kid, and predating a takeover that you had no part in, and can do absolutely fuck all about by 40+ years? All while presumably ignoring the dubious regimes/countries running rival clubs that have been out-muscling you in the leagues and the transfer market for decades.
I just like seeing my team do well Derm… there’s a surprisingly good mood about the place and I’m enjoying seeing them compete for the first time in ages. If you’re predisposed to dislike Newcastle for whatever reason then fair enough, it’s an easy thing to throw at them, but it’s also entirely unrealistic. I know plenty of Leeds fans and would be genuinely interested to see if they behaved any differently in the same circumstances, I highly doubt they would.
