Skipper Luke Chambers believes “the club is being glued back together” with manager Paul Lambert and owner Marcus Evans working in tandem on a long-term project as he goes into what he says are the biggest four months of his career.
The Blues face Middlesbrough at the Riverside this afternoon in 2018’s final match sitting bottom of the Championship seven points plus goal difference from safety.
"The way I see it, the next four months are the biggest of my career,” Chambers told the club website.
"It’s a massive ask for us to get out of it. I think we are in a better position now though to get out of it.
"The belief is there. I feel the club is being glued back together now. The manager is talking long-term about a project here that he can help build and that’s great to hear.
"The owner seems very much in line with that as well. They are working together and things are already taking shape at the training ground in terms of improvements made.
"The manager is taking the club in the right direction and the players want to be part of that. It’s down to us now to get the results we need over the second half of the season to keep us in this division.”
Meanwhile, former skipper Gareth McAuley has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to football in Northern Ireland.
Capped by his country 80 times and having also worn the captain’s armband, McAuley, 39, now with Rangers, was with the Blues between 2008 and 2011, making 126 starts and one sub appearance, scoring eight goals.
My family and I are truly humbled and honoured by tonight's announcement of my MBE. Couldn't have imagined it as a kid playing football in Larne. Thank you to everyone who supported me on the journey from then to now, and in the future. #GAWA #Rangers pic.twitter.com/Z1mYWWbJKN
— Gareth McAuley (@G23mcauley) December 28, 2018