Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini insists his side do not deserve to be in a position where they head into Saturday's game with West Bromwich Albion fighting for their Premier League lives.
In an open letter to supporters published via the club’s official media channels, Coloccini also called on fans to put their differences aside and cheer Newcastle to a vital win.
United go into the game two points off the relegation zone after eight successive defeats and with morale at a new low following the controversial aftermath of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Leicester City.
Coloccini said: “Today we are in a delicate situation, one that we have been through before, and it is one of the most uncomfortable situations in the world of football.
“Uncomfortable because this Club doesn’t deserve to be in this position, a position that puts its status at risk.
“Players and staff have come together in order to leave all past problems aside and to focus 100 per cent on the three ‘cup finals’ that we have left.
“I would like to make a call to all fans today to also leave aside all differences, all different opinions, anything that divides us as people who love this club.”
Manager John Carver will remain in his post for the West Brom game after surviving showdown talks at the club’s training ground this week.
But even that news was swiftly undermined by reports Carver is only staying on because Derby County coach Steve McClaren rejected the offer of an immediate move to Tyneside.
Press Association Sport understands Carver did not offer to walk away during talks with managing director Lee Charnley, and nor was he asked to step down.
Carver’s position came under fresh scrutiny when he accused defender Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off late in last week’s defeat.
Williamson chose to issue a statement denying the allegations while Carver conceded: “There’s a chance they are just not listening to me.”
Newcastle fans have boycotted the club’s last two home games and it was perhaps a prospect of a repeat on Saturday which prompted the still widely popular Coloccini to call for calm.
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