As Manchester City faces significant scrutiny regarding its ownership and management, the club's fanbase is experiencing internal tension. Long-term supporters, such as Nicola Schofield, have voiced concerns that the current situation is fundamentally different from the sporting hardships the club endured in the 1990s. While fans previously united through relegation and the subsequent climb back through the divisions, the current climate regarding ownership strategy is described as potentially more divisive.

There is a growing concern among some supporters that the fanbase may split into factions: those who remain staunchly loyal to the current ownership regardless of the legal or ethical challenges, and those who are increasingly critical of the owners' conduct. This internal friction creates a "minefield" for the community, as the desire to support the team on the pitch clashes with conflicting views on the club's leadership. The sentiment expressed by some fans is that their personal history and memories associated with the club remain independent of any legal verdict or administrative controversy. However, the uncertainty surrounding the club's future is creating a sense of unease that threatens the traditional unity of the supporters, as they navigate the balance between loyalty to the club's identity and accountability for its ownership.