Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has urged fans to put aside their grievances and get behind the team during the final weeks of the season.
Eight consecutive defeats have left the Magpies just two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with three games left to play.
There has been further turmoil behind the scenes over the past week, with widespread reports suggesting that there is a lack of unity among players and coaching staff. Members of the Newcastle squad are also understood to be scared of their families attending home games due to the discontent among supporters.
However, the club recently insisted that manager John Carver would remain in charge of the side until the end of the season.
Amid an increasing sense of disharmony at St James' Park, Coloccini has called on supporters to stand by the team during a difficult time.
"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," he wrote in an open letter on the club's official website. "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.
"Players and staff have come together in order to leave all past problems aside and to focus 100% 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."
Newcastle continue their battle for Premier League survival on Saturday when they host West Bromwich Albion.
Jack Prescott
