If we get promoted, we get big crowds because all those fans want to see their Prem heroes, they aren't coming to see us. Which means they don't stay should we relegate. And those big crowds won't be that big when against the "lesser" Prem sides. When we were in the Prem, the Family stand notably had plenty of empty seats for games - people buying cheap family STs so their little kids could watch their beloved Liverpool, Man Yoo et al.

Our hard core of support is still that small number from 25 years ago. We've accumulated 10k since those days who would soon disappear if we relegated back to that level.