Several of the Toon squad have spoken about the team meeting called by the players ... when Steven Taylor told a few big names they were not pulling their weight.
Nicky Butt admits the meeting was the turning point of the season.
Nicky Butt: “I want to put it right.
“We are all responsible, no matter where the finger gets pointed.
“It is always down to the players. We go out every weekend and we need to perform.
“We must put what has happened behind us.
“All the lads are together now and we are up at the top of the table.
“In the summer, if I am honest, we did not know what might happen because of the wages factor.
“We all thought at any given moment we were going to get a call saying ‘you are gone’.
“It was tricky.
“However, we all had the chat, together with Chris, Colin and most of the lads who are here now.
“We all said we wanted to take the club back to where it should be.
“We all feel responsible for where we are and we need to put that right.
“When you have a small amount of numbers like we do, the bonus is that you are closer together.
“You form better relationships and therefore form a bigger bond.
“Obviously, it is not ideal. We would like a like a bigger squad, and I am sure Chris is looking for loans.
“We are all playing well, and perhaps the flip side is you hope it does not upset the apple cart.
“It is a danger, and there are arguments either side, but deep down we would all like more bodies in the squad.”