Football fans are incredibly loyal to the clubs they support forming a lifelong allegiance that can outlast many other things in life including friendships and even marriages in some instances.
But that loyalty is being tested to the limit for many Manchester United supporters, including those in Northern Ireland.
The News Letter reports today how season Old Trafford ticket holder Eamon Atkinson, now 78, says the club is currently in its worst state since he began supporting them in the 1960s.
The secretary of the Craigavon Manchester United Supporters’ Club was speaking after the team’s 4-1 Champions League drubbing at the hands of Como, who are currently fifth in Italy’s Serie A on Wednesday.
Eamon says he would not sack manager Michael Carrick however, instead pointing the finger at those further up the football food chain.
He said the problem is bigger than the manager, and pointed the finger at what he sees as the clubs focus on corporate deals over on-pitch quality (pointing the finger in particular at director of football Jason Wilcox and owner Jim Ratcliffe).