Personally, as an outsider who visits Newcastle regularly for business (and when my team play there), I'd say the biggest problem is the fans. Sorry. The fact is, the chairman (whoever that may be) knows for a certainty that he'll have a full (or near to) ground every week regardless of the division or standard of football because of the loyalty of those fans. That loyalty is ultimately what lets them and the club down. No other consumer would carry on shelling out money hand over fist for substandard product but to not do so as a football fan marks you out as a deserter or a traitor. It's only when fans stop showing up, something will be done.