There was fans outside the Milburn entrance in the 06/07 season after a defeat to Sheffield United chanting sack the board. The mood was shifting by the end of the Shepherd/Hall time after Souness and Roeder and the crap players that were being brought in like Craig Moore, Boumsong, Babayaro, Amdy Faye, Sibierski (although he did do well), Luque, Roeder playing loads of academy players as we had a thin squad with not much quality. Year on year we were in decline due to bad recruitment and two poor managers. The stories about how Woodgate (alleged bid for Rooney to replace him), Speed and others were sold as board decisions rather than at the choice of the manager. When Speed was sold against Robson's wishes he wanted Carrick from West Ham. Shepherd said he wasn't a big enough name and got Nicky Butt. There was the bad timing of sacking Robson, to then replace him with Souness.
There was a definite change over their last 3 or 4 years owning the club.
Save Our Seats in '99, Toongate 98.
There was many times people were against the Shepherd/Hall ownership