I can fully understand why people don't go when the 'entertainment' on display is dross. Especially when money is tight.
What I don't buy is the the 'losing our soul/club' crap that people pull. Clubs go through ebs and flows. When the football gets good again, and it will, the same people will be returning to the same club that is still there, and always had been there.
Whilst I take your point about about ebbs and flows but I think football has changed a lot over the last few years.
The money now, is very top heavy much more so than it has been before. I think the gap between the 'rich' and the 'poor' is getting bigger.
Therefore, I'm not sure the ebbs and flows still exist in game. Even now, I can't see another Swansea or Bournemouth run from bottom to top. Even getting the elusive millionaire backing, so many teams have them it's not even a huge advantage.
I guess we will see what the future holds.
...on...fans and attendances. People will turn up for winning football. Always have and always will. I've never bought it as an entertainment business and even if I did - the most entertaining bit was always the winning. I've left plenty of boring, dire games which we've won happy. Never left a thrilling 4-3 defeat with a penalty, a red card and a fox on the pitch and thought, we lost but that was entertaining so I'm happy.
However, what do I know. I think Kevin MacDonalds first game in charge was the last game I went to. Not going every week (...or any week) was actually one of the best decisions I have ever made.