Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has warned his players they will only win back the fans by winning Coca-Cola Championship games.
The Teessiders have been presented with the fixture list they must negotiate if they are to return to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt in the wake of a demoralising relegation.
Devastated supporters are still waiting to see which of the current squad of players they could lose as Southgate prepares to rebuild for the challenge ahead.
However, he knows there is only one way faith can be restored and said: "The fans will be a big element for us. We have got to win them over and we appreciate the support many of them have already given us in buying season tickets.
"But last season was understandably a big disappointment for the fans. As a team and for me as the manager there is a big task to with that support back. The only way to do that is to win matches.
"I'm well aware of how people feel. We have got to win games. If we play good football and win games, then we will get the crowds in."
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its gunna take a lot to win me over after last seasons performance.
mortgageandmoneycentre
Trust me, forget about 'excellent football' - ANY football will do so long as the end result is promotion . . . .surely.
lets not kid ourselves, support was extremely poor last season with only a handful of fixtures taking us anywhere close to capacity. Those fixtures, with exception of Newcastle are gone and theres only a few big clubs with decent away support in the championship - sheff utd being one. If we couldn't get the fans in when we were in the top flight, its going to take excellent football and good results to come anywhere near in the second tier. the qustion then is - who's going to be here to play excellent football ?
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