"One longtime fan said team owner Jeffrey Loria is steadily eliminating the factors that would allow for people to latch onto the Expos."

I'm cynical enough to allow that this might be true. There are perfectly good reasons for firing Alou, but none that weren't there in December. Between the firing and Loria's near full ownership it looks like either a move or a close is in the offing. Either way Montreal wouldn't fight it if the club alientates them enough. Of course regardless of what happens, if the Expos don't end up in Montreal Loria is doomed to be hated: the end result will just determine whether he's the guy who stole the team and moved it for the money or the guy who liquidated the team for cash.