You are right Frankly Mr Shankly. I think fans, real or otherwise, are expected to ignore the fact that the club is a business until it suits the owners or their representatives to remind us.
Going back to the original quote…
“the real fans stick through the bad times as well as the good.”
Supporting Oldham Athletic is a hobby I am passionate about it is not however my (bloody) family. I don’t have to stick with them through the bad times as well as the good. You wouldn’t keep going to a rubbish concert because a band used to be good but you might go back if they released a great new album.
“Keep coming to my gigs, I know I’m rubbish now but I promise I will be good again in 10 years” D Bowie (1987) As if…