Fan Fest is Black Cats winner

When things aren’t running smoothly, you can either hide and hope for the best or put you head above the parapet and face the music.

Sunderland’s footballers are not exactly enjoying the smoothest of rides in their current campaign and their relationship with the fans is being strained.

Which is why we applaud them for playing a part in the Fan Fest programme.

It would have been easy for the club to pull out of any meet-the-fans events, citing a need for extra training following a string of poor results.

That may have been the easy way out, but credit where credit is due, they are facing up to their responsibilities.

Black Cats defenders Billy Jones and Adam Matthews were at Marsden Primary School this week to face a barrage of questions from their young fans.

The day forms part of a series of free events to take place over the half-term which will see the players reconnect with the fans.

And the focal point of the week’s events will be an open door training session which will see fans at the Stadium of Light to watch the players put through their paces by manager Simon Grayson.

Billy Jones said “I think Fan Fest is a great idea and I’m looking forward to training in the stadium with the fans watching.

“Support from the fans is so important to us, so I’m glad we are able to open to doors to a training session.”

Sunderland is more than just a football club, it is an integral part of the community. When the team enjoys success, the whole city is buzzing.

If the team is to successfully negotiate the current sticky patch, it needs the fans onside. Fan Fest is a step in the right direction.