All I can say is, if Ash leaves, this has to be the riskiest move the anime writers have done (although it may be a potentially interesting way)

Removing such a beloved character that has been the face of the anime for so many years is a huge risk, an I'm already seeing people who are refusing to watch the new anime because no Ash. To be fair though, you don't have many avenues to take Ash beyond Journeys and his character would probably stagnate. But I can understand the issues people have. I really don't get as to why Ash couldn't just be a tertiary mentor character but eh

I am very interested to this new anime other than that though.