Skipper Luke Chambers has dismissed the notion that Town could eventually end up better off if they were relegated to League One, as Southampton were in 2010 before recovering, rebuilding and going on to reach the Premier League.

It is not a theory to which many supporters will subscribe and Chambers said: “How can that be? I don’t see how anyone would want the club to get relegated and for it to be a positive. I don’t know how that can happen. It baffles me that someone would say that. It’s a minority but that’s the ones you hear.

“No one is going to be happy all the time. It’s like when I put the music on in the dressing room before a game — I can’t please everyone. You hear a lot of ‘be careful what you wish for’ if you make changes.

“Sheffield Wednesday made the play-offs two years in a row and then they changed their manager and have dropped like a stone.

“If they hadn’t got the points on the board that they have now they would be in big trouble because they weren’t very good when we played them.

“These are the things that can happen. Change might happen here — we just don’t know — but all we can do is deal with what’s happening right now.

“The manager is working his socks off to be as successful as possible and we are doing our best to back that up and perform the way we feel we can, and try to become better players.

“The [owner] is putting his own money into it and is obviously at a level where he wants to do it. All we can do is try to be the best footballers we can be and produce for the fans and for ourselves.”

Since reverting to a 3-5-2 formation in the 1-1 draw at Norwich last month Town have only been beaten once, 1-0 by second-placed Cardiff, and have taken eight points from their last five games and conceded just three goals in the process. It is a system which Chambers favours above all others.

“I love it,” he enthused. “Since the Norwich game I’ve enjoyed my football more than I have done in a long time. I feel I have two lads next to me that are up there with the best defenders in the league.

“It gives them an insurance to go and do what they’re good at, attacking the ball and defending properly.

“If they do make a slight mistake they know they’ve got insurance in me in a position where I feel I can use my experience to obviously help them and cover for them if need be.

“It’s no coincidence that that back three, as well as the boys in front, whoever that may be because there have been a lot of changes, have performed well and not conceded many goals.

“Cameron is very, very good and it still baffles me how we were able to get him half-way through a Championship season. He’s been a fantastic capture for us and since he’s been here he has been different class. He’s a great lad to have around the place and he’s still young.

“I’ve been in his ear to see if we can get him back next season. If we could get the deal done now, I think we would.

“It would also be great to keep Adam fit because we know the quality he brings. He’s not played enough football over the last couple of years so it’s nice to see him playing week in, week out, at the moment.

“I always speak about the lads but I think the manager has to be given credit for bringing in the players that he has. They are fantastic people, as well as good players, and that always helps.

“I see the majority of Sheffield Wednesday’s players are out injured and I’d never want to say they are feigning injury. But you don’t see too many of the lads here not turning out if they have knocks and bruises.

“They will put themselves out there for the manager and the club and they will always fight. We’ve got 10 games left and we’ll be fighting for every single one of them.

“We had a crap finish to last year — we lost too many games that affected our league position — and I will be doing everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We need to be finishing in the top half.”

Chambers joined the chorus of approval for goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski’s call-up by Poland, which takes him a step nearer realising his dream to represent his country in the World Cup, this summer’s finals in Russia now a realistic target.

“Bart doesn’t say much, but we’re all delighted for him that he has received the recognition he thoroughly deserves,” said Chambers.

“The boys have been giving him a bit of a ribbing about it but I just think it’s such a nice touch. He’s a god down here, an absolute hero to everyone, and he’s earned it.

“He still hasn’t signed that contract, though. We’ll have to wait and see what happens there. Would I like to see him sign the contract? Of course I would. I’m here for next season so why would you not get that done?”

Photo: TWTD

baxter7 added 10:52 - Mar 13 Don't worry chambers your place is safe no matter how you play because your a proper bloke and a undroppable with mcarthy but you players always forget us fans are not on thousands of pounds a week to watch the football you and your manager give us total dire defensive cr-p mcarthy out mcarthy out
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warktheline added 12:15 - Mar 13 The happy chappies may not like hearing or seeing the hard facts but they are there for all to see! Our owner 'messed up' big time on his recruitments ( and money outlay ) prior to McCarthy's appointment ( desperate measures ) and 'horses for courses' it sure was! ' Your man' excelled stopped the slide, and to his credit took a 'rag-tag' team to play-offs! The 'Laurel and Hardy show' managed another 'fine mess' by unbelievably not financially 'backing the messiah' ( he was at this particular time ) . Sadly for all concerned ( not the invisible man ) thereafter a 'sustained period' of mediocracy continued where 'your man' developed a sense of 'comfortability' alongside his 'proper blokes' in which 'milky performances' were now 'totally acceptable' due to the lack of ambition from 'above' We now find ourselves in a dilemma ! Stick with 'dire football' and 'safe hands Mick' or enter 'the lap of the Gods' and pray the 'Laurel and Hardy Show' stumble upon a 'true messiah' who requires little but a 'break' ! I'm opting for the latter! BUT in such I'll be watching with 'one eyed closed' bracing myself for the next 'fine mess!'

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tempzzzz added 12:58 - Mar 13 I completely agree with Luke in the sense that I would hate to see us relegated. It may well hope overall but who wants to take that chance?! Negatives about his interview though. “The manager is working his socks off to be as successful as possible and we are doing our best to back that up and perform the way we feel we can, and try to become better players. “The [owner] is putting his own money into it and is obviously at a level where he wants to do it. All we can do is try to be the best footballers we can be and produce for the fans and for ourselves.” Clear why he's one of the undroppables, up McCarthy and Evans backsides!

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blueheartXT added 18:34 - Mar 13 Thanks for all the people who dont post regularly but talk alot of sense its nice to see the mindless few copy paste moan posters are a minority on this topic COYB get behind your team and manager whoever they are
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blueheartXT added 18:43 - Mar 13 They must be on the bus to barnsley with no wifi is that right Poldark
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