46,039 reasons to be cheerful

relegations.

Donald and Methven must take a lot of the credit for reinvigorating a club that was cast adrift from its fanbase and heading towards disaster.

Fans have been quick to suggest that the good times are back – but the fact must still be faced that the club is battling for promotion from the third tier of the Football League.

There is a long way to go, but the attendance, the electric atmosphere at the SoL and the feelgood factor ehanced by the club’s matchday activities in the Fanzone gave the impression that the club, its heirarchy and its support are first class.

The club has regained its pride and supporters have regained their hope – and that’s no small victory. Forty-six thousand and thirty-nine reasons to be proud.

That was the massive turnout for the Boxing Day clash with Bradford City yesterday.

The attendance was a record for League 1 and one of the highest of the day, including Premier League fixtures.

For weeks owner Stewart Donald and executive director Charlie Methven have been urging supporters to show their faith in the red and whites again and turn up for the festive fixture.

One by one, targets were broken – 30,000, 35,000 and then 40,000 a few days before the match.

It was a magnificent effort, restoring much of the faith and pride that had seeped out of the club through years of numbing despair and consecutive