Can also add Hansen, Tuson, and most of all... Lauaki.

Did Shaun Long leave Wigan and go to Saints - just asking

No, via Widnes, Wigan have a policy of never signing anyone from Saints, Higham went via Bratfut

Over-simplified IMO, when was the last time you arranged a holiday round a trip to Aldi or chanted and danced on the concourse at Meadowhall? Behaviour of sporting fans in many cases is emotional rather than strictly rational because of the sentiment and feeling of connection - call it tribalism, sense of belonging, whatever.

We're a club, not a 3rd party service provider. We live together, we win together, we lose together, ultimately we're miles better together. Those with looser attachment cling less keenly maybe. They bail out in choppy or dull waters and consequently the whole is weaker. Clearly it's their choice, but the consequences are probably less for them and greater for those hanging on for whom it's a central not peripheral strand of their life. This is a poor analogy, sure, but just saying there's perhaps a consequence of not actively supporting the club which is having to jettison valuable assets to keep going.

Perfectly summed up.

Good player, good luck to him but not the end of the world. We've seen, and lost, better.
I look forward to seeing the progression of Naughton and Lancaster.
I don't buy the point that we've had to sell because of supporters staying away. Far more successful clubs than us have not matched our support. We've backed the club to the hilt year after year.
If money is tight, it's down to the mismanagement down the years.

Which ones, without a benefactor? I don't dispute mistakes have been made BTW, and should have been fessed up more humbly.

So he's decided he's leaving 7 months after signing a 3 year deal?

Do you realise the ridiculousness of what you're saying? Fans of sports teams are not rational customers.

And I'm sorry, but if you need a bottle of milk, but aren't happy with Tesco's you don't put your quid in your pocket because you refuse to buy from Asda! Deary me.

It's a good point, and I see what you mean.
Just think that the club couldn't have asked the supporters for any more support than they've given. We had years of underachievement before AP took over.
The previous regime, and the bad advice received by AP at the beginning of his tenure has contributed massively to any shortfalls.

And the club seems to rely on the irrational loyalty of its supporters.

And if that loyalty is lost it will be in big trouble.

Absolutely. There is a reason why supporters are deserting the club and its largely the fault of the club, not the supporters.

Irrational loyalty is unwavering, hence the term 'irrational'.