Exactly this especially when fan frustration and apathy is at all time high due to the dismal stuff served up for at least the oast 4 seasons.
With the club wanting/needing membership renewals and to attract new ones then releasing your better players and not having replacements to announce at the same time is hardly going to help increase the numbers or engender positivity in the fan base, more so it increases negative thoughts and feelings.
Anyone in Hull FC's marketing should understand the fans' anxiety over the Connor replacement situation. It breeds an air of apathy and some hostility , as if the Club doesn't care about its fans and has an arrogance about them that they will do things in their time, despite the anxiety it causes. Even if we cannot name the replacement, at least officially comment on how far on negotiations are, rather than leaving it to the HDM. If they want to retain and expand their paying membership schemes, to be silent on this issue has probably had the reverse effect, with people waiting and keeping their diminishing free cash spare for other things. I know the Club doesn't actually operate with that intention, but it does feel like the gap between fans and the management is as wide as ever because of this. Fans do have a right to be impatient, why not? They have as much right to be that way as those who choose not to be, and the number that are suggests that something is triggering this. Time for someone to spread calm rather than panic. FWIW, Smith I believe will have his plan in place, and I don't think for one minute it will include a Reynolds type of panic buy, but it'd be beneficial for someone from within to confirm this, officially.