Fan Letters: Sunderland’s survival depends upon the fans getting behind the players and manager!

Dear Roker Report,

Regardless of what we think of Ellis Short, Martin Bain, any number of the players, the pink seats, the over-priced pies, the queues and congestion on the concourses, people smoking in the toilets or whatever else annoys us on a matchday, we have to put all of our hatred aside and get behind the team and the manager.

Chris Coleman said it himself: “We won’t get over the line if we don’t have them with us, it’s as simple as that.” And he’s right - they won’t. The only way we build momentum and create the kind of mentality that is needed in a survival battle is if we all get on the same page.

Which is why I will be making an effort to get behind the lads at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, as are my kids - their tickets cost me just £1, which doesn’t exactly break the bank and gets my boys along with me at the match in order to support the team.

I hope that others reading this follow suit and do the same. It’s our duty as supporters to turn up and ensure that we do our absolute best to be with the players every step of the way.

None of us want to be watching third-tier football next season. And if you don’t attend, I’m pretty sure that though sometimes you feel like you can’t be bothered any more, you really do care, and it would devastate you to see this once-great club playing in League One.

We have to pull together. We have to try and brush off the disappointments and move on quickly, stop the finger pointing and just try and get through the rest of this season together as a unit.

Our survival may well depend on it.

Simon Williams (a worried fan)

Ed’s note: Simon, I like your style. We do need to be fully behind the team and the manager, and I agree that our very future depends upon it. I do think, though, that our fans are so downtrodden from all the disappointment that simply asking them to come along and cheer is going to be difficult. That won’t happen unless these players provide us with even just a glimmer of hope - and then we can build momentum.

That has to start this weekend with a win. I cannot understate just how important this weekend’s game is - we have to get three points. Losing just isn’t acceptable. Drawing barely helps, but a win puts us closer to the gaggle of struggling teams above us, and that is vitally important.

Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

As a Sunderland fan all my life - 50 years - I suggest that just for this season there are no protests at all.

In fact, why don’t we try and get more support in the ground in order to keep us in the Championship if possible?

Ed’s note: Yeah, that sounds li— oh, hold on, there’s more...

We should now tell Mr Short and the club that unless or until the club is sold, we will not buy season tickets or go to any league games - only FA and League cup home to prove a point. All away games we will attend, as the club and Short gets nothing for those, again proving a point. I’m convinced that it will work. And whatever league we find ourselves in, we must keep Chris Coleman.

Super Kev

Ed’s note: Do we support them or do we not? You’ve got me befuddled, Kev!