Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has taken a swipe at Newcastle United fans' and questioned the decision to boycott the Brighton stalemate.
The home attendance at St James' Park plummeted for a third match running, with just 43,316 in the stands for the goalless draw.
It is the lowest figure recorded for eight years, since 42,684 turned up for Fulham's visit.
Speaking on Simon Jordan's Final Word on talkSPORT on Sunday, the former Crystal Palace owner distanced himself from supporting United owner Mike Ashley .
But Jordan questioned the loyalty of Newcastle fans deciding to stay away from St James' Park.
He said: "With respect, Newcastle aren't in decline. They may not have taken the opportunities that other football clubs have had, and they may not have the owners they wanted.
"It just made me feel that football is such an important part of people's lives, it's a one-club city. Whether you like Mike Ashley or not, why would you not be in the stadium supporting the football club you purport to love?"
The latest crowd was down on the 44,157 that turned out against Watford for the 1-1 draw in August, and more than 4,000 short of the crowd that watched the 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
Speaking from his own experience as an owner and a fan, Jordan told the radio show he believed there to be a "right way" and a "wrong way" to support a club.
Jordan added: "Everybody knows and understands you don't like the owner. Everybody knows and understand you don't like Stevey Bruce, who is a very capable and decent man, [and he] isn't your first choice.
"We all know Rafa Benitez walked on water, and his integrity was beyond reproach. Of course, that's before he disappeared off to China for £12million.
"But it just made me feel slightly sad that ultimately a club that has such value at it's heart, and supporters that have such value of their club, would want to support their club by staying away from it.
"Whether you like the owner is academic, this football club isn't making a fortune, they made £18million last year which is not a fortune.
"Ultimately the fans that support the club are the lifeblood of the club, and when I sat there watching it, it made me feel that football supporters have to take a greater responsibility than just being able to shout people in and out of jobs."
