Wednesday 6 May 2015 14:17, UK
Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has written an open letter to the club's fans apologising for recent poor results.
Coloccini claims the players and staff at St James' Park are all united and he has called on supporters to back the team in their fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Leicester was Newcastle’s eighth in succession, leaving them just two points above the relegation zone with an inferior goal difference to four of the five teams below them.
Newcastle boss John Carver met with managing director Lee Charnley and senior players at the club’s training ground on Monday amid reports of serious unrest amongst the squad following the loss to Leicester.
Thousands of fans have boycotted the last two games in protest at the way the perceive owner Mike Ashley to be running the club.
Newcastle’s final games see them travel to relegation rivals QPR, either side of home games against West Brom and West Ham.
The letter on the club's website said: "I don't usually speak publicly too often, but today I feel the responsibility to talk to all of you for several reasons in which you are involved, every bit as much as we are as players, staff, directors and every person that works for the club.
"Firstly, on behalf of the squad we would like to apologise for the moment we are going through. Needless to say this is not anything intentional.
"Neither players nor staff would like to be in the position that we are in at the moment.
"This is something that has happened for many reasons and right now there is no time to look back and correct those mistakes.
"The time we have left to turn around this situation is short but after the end of the season we will try to learn from the mistakes we made so that we don't have to go through this again.
"This is as painful for us as it is for you, because when this team comes onto the pitch we do so with the intention of winning and to defend not just the colours of this club, not just our shirt, but also to represent thousands of fans, the whole city.
"We do so understanding that a victory at the weekend means a week of joy for this city that breathes, lives and loves football like no other city in England.
"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. And this is what I want to highlight; this is the most important reason for my letter.
"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.
"On Saturday, please come to St. James' Park, create a great atmosphere, support the team more than ever, because at the end of the day what matters the most here is Newcastle
United Football Club.
"Years will pass and so will players, directors, coaches and managers, but what is always going to be there is yourselves, your children, your grandchildren.
On behalf of the squad we would like to apologise for the moment we are going through. Needless to say this is not anything intentional.
"I am also a fan and I understand how badly you are hurting, but I think that the best fans are those who are there for their Club in the worst of situations.
"Today we need you more than ever. In these three games we need to be together, we need to be united, to be a family - a family that fights together against adversity, a family that strives to achieve the success that you and this club deserve.
"The players are committed to this and if you stay with us, if you join us, we are going to fight together for our black and white family.
"Thank you from my heart, your captain".
