Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has attempted to build bridges with the club's fans, penning an open letter pleading "don't let anyone break our relationship".
After losing to QPR earlier this month the Uruguayan appeared to offer a dismissive account of the style of football desired by Black Cats supporters, though he later blamed the media for their reporting of his comments.
Sections of the away end chanted "Gus Poyet, it's always our fault" during the FA Cup fifth round defeat at Bradford, and Poyet has taken the unusual step of addressing fans via a lengthy missive on the club website.
Within a seemingly unedited and rambling post, he wrote: "For the first time in my life I think is time for me to write this letter to you, the fans.
"I was brought into the club to stay in the Premier League first and most, then get stability and then progress with an identity in our game.
"The first goal was the most difficult task of my life but we not only stayed up in a miraculous way, we went to Wembley for the first time in years, plus successful games against our biggest rivals and enjoyed some incredible victories away from home. What we achieved last year was achieved by all of us together: club (chairman, directors, staff and players) and fans, nobody and I mean nobody from outside helped us a bit, it was only us together.
"Then my second aim was to achieve stability, progression and then slowly start bringing a special way of playing football to make you very proud of our team. This takes time, but even if the aim is clear during the process, we need to keep competing and winning games somehow.
"So let's make sure that we don't let anyone to break our relationship, I promise you that I care and want to win as much as you do and no one thinks more time every day about the team than I do, so I invite all of you to stay positive, to be strong, closer to each other and keep believing in what we started together last year, working harder to make it better this season."
Poyet also moved to distance himself from suggestions he had attempted to shift the blame for the club's modest results this term - first to fans, then to reporters - making it clear the buck stops with him.
"To finish I would like to clarify once more: the main responsible of the results of our team is me, I always said it and I will always accept my responsibility," he said.
"I am really looking forward to see the Stadium of Light packed on Saturday (against West Brom), pushing the team to what could be a very important victory."
Source: PA
