Newcastle United supporters are among the most loyal in world football but the simple question following Kevin Keegan's resignation is where does your loyalty lie now?
Newcastle fans have followed the topsy-turvy fortunes of English football's greatest under-achievers with a gritty resolve and a resilient sense of humour which, at times, has been nothing short of remarkable.
But will that inbred loyalty, which has been handed down by generation to generation in this football mad corner of North East England be enough to prevent a season of mass discontent at a club which sits bang square in the middle of a crisis which is tearing it apart.
Is this the end for Mike Ashley's regime? Will he be left with any other alternative than to hide in the director's box at games while he desperately looks for a buyer?
It all seemed like so much fun at first, but this is one business venture that has turned sour for the billionaire and it is difficult, given the strength of feeling on Tyneside at this stage, how he can hope to cling on, even if he did intervene to try and keep him following the row with managing director Derek Llambias on Monday?
If there is anyone connected to him - Derek Llambias, Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez - who does not understand what they have done, I'm pretty sure they are about to. Boycotts, demonstrations and protests are all coming there way if the initial response to Keegan's turmoil is to be believed. I don't think these are flash in the pan threats made in the heat of the moment.
When Keegan released a statement via the League Manager's Association on Thursday evening, the implication was clear - he says he has been forced out by boardroom interference in player retention and recruitment.
We suspected as much, but somehow the confirmation that a man who loves NUFC as much as anyone has been forced to resign in protest at the way it is being run, still hits home with the force of a Ricky Hatton rib-tickler. "I have been left with no choice", those are the words which will reverberate again and again as United fans decide what to do next.
Keegan is an emotional character, some might even describe him as a high maintenance kinda guy, but surely it isn't too much to ask for a manager at a supposedly top Premier League club to be able to decide who he signs and who he keeps at his football club.
Considering how long Newcastle's long suffering supporters put up with former chairman Freddie Shepherd, they are now renowned for their militancy, but neither were Chinese students before Tinanmen Square!
There are undoubtedly people up and down the country who find the whole thing rather amusing - there are probably a few 12 miles down the road in Sunderland who are struggling not to laugh - but this isn't a laughing matter for those who have come to believe their club has been hijacked.
Keegan tried to use his popularity with the fans to win a power struggle with the board, to win back control of player recruitment and to ensure he was able to make the major footballing decisions without interference - he has lost.
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