A city supporting acquaintance of mine (who wrote a book about his life following City which was number one in the sports book chart a few years back) who is a sensible, balanced, and measured fellow and has always admired County said to me a while back about rivalries that City have two rivals. Man U, and County.
Went on to explain that whilst County have drifted in one direction and City the other, that still, amongst many fans, there is a grudging respect which spills over to dislike, for us.
There were swathes of City fans who were glad to see our demise. But he reckons equal numbers who will be glad to see us rise again.
I have to stress he's probably the exception. An intelligent, cultured, gravy stainer.