From a business sense it was awful, too. Lerner and Faulkner kept on trying that "softly softly, we do business THE CORRECT and proper way" approach.
What it got us was Leeds United saying "Oooh, thanks, you're gentlemen". And that's it. What it brought elsewhere was Dave Whelan, Manchester City, a couple of players and many press articles ridiculing us as a soft touch. If you're not cutthroat, you're going to drop in reputation and notoriety.
These days, sadly, your international recognition is seemingly the most important thing in this league. I believe Fox has probably more from a "dog-eat-dog" world rather than Lerner's gentleman one.