Chairman Paul Baker called a meeting with all of Cheltenham Town’s staff, directors and players at the end of last week and the message was clear: we are all in this together.
With terrace hero Russell Milton confirmed as manager until the end of the season, assisted by Steve Elliott and a more experienced figure due to be appointed in an advisory role next week, the club are ready to fight for their Football League future.
It took the Robins 112 years to rise from non-league into the full-time ranks in 1999 and Baker said it must not be allowed to slip away now.
“We can win this battle, we can survive and we are all in it together, from the board room to the players to the fans,” Baker said.
“There are 15 matches remaining and the next four are potentially season changing games against teams around us in the table.
“We need the fans more than ever before. I can’t thank them enough for their response at Saturday’s home match against Bury.
“We need them to be like that until the end of the season, but in greater numbers so please come along and get behind the team.”
Baker admitted mistakes have been made, but he is only looking forward now as Cheltenham bid to cling on to their status among the elite 92 clubs in the country.
“We have made some decisions which have alienated fans and elements within the club too so we hold our hands up for that, but they are all behind us now,” he said.
“We are looking ahead, trying to make good decisions to secure our Football League status and then looking ahead to next season.”
Cheltenham travel to Accrington Stanley on Friday night (7.45pm kick-off) and Baker said the reaction of everyone at the club to Milton’s appointment had been “superb”.
“The players have been tremendous and it’s great to have Stevie Elliott back at the club,” Baker said.
“Russ is so highly regarded by everyone here, as a player of course, but also as a coach for the way he has steered the academy and he deserves a huge amount of credit for that.
“He is passionate in the same way that Steve Cotterill, John Ward, Keith Downing, Mark Yates and Neil Howarth are and we have to build on that ethos. It’s a club that’s together with good people and eral spirit.”
Baker said the highly respected Elliott has a key role to play, being such an inspirational figure in the dressing room.
The 36-year-old was given a standing ovation by the entire squad when his return was announced at Friday morning’s meeting.
“Steve is equally respected by all the players and Russ is so keen to have him on board too, which is so important,” Baker said.
“Ian Weston (senior sports therapist) has been a real brick for us in this process too. He loves the club to bits and has it at the forefront of everything he does so he’s been a great support to us.
“We all need to look at ourselves, see what extra we can put in, from directors to players and management and we will get through this.”