Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has warned fans criticism could drive chairman Peter Coates to sell up.
Ahead of today's crucial clash with Delia Smith's Norwich, Pulis praised his club's local links.
He said: "The biggest strength of Stoke City is we're a team supported within its own city.
"Not just by supporters. But by the chairman and his family.
"That's pretty unique these days and it's something Stoke fans should never lose sight of.
"What worries me is when criticism is over the top the Coates family might get fed up. If it came to that we could become a club operating on a whim."