HARTLEPOOL United have kept their part of the bargain - now Chris Turner wants the town to do the same.
Tuesday's win over Bristol Rovers stretched Pool's lead at the top of Division Three to five points, but was watched by Pool's lowest home gate of the season, just 3,889.
The disappointing attendance was over 1,000 down on Pool's average this season of 4,911 and the turnout left Turner - who yesterday signed Preston left-back Brian Barry Murphy on loan - amazed and disappointed that the team achieving so much this season should be shunned by the townsfolk.
Pool, for the last 12 months, have entertained the fans by playing some superb football and while attendances have steadily climbed during Turner's successful reign, the Pool boss cannot understand why people stayed away this week.
And now he wants supporters to show they deserve the success he is bringing to Victoria Park by turning out in force for tomorrow's encounter with York.
"I was very disappointed with the crowd,'' he admitted. "We've had an excellent result against Wrexham, a win at Southend and then come back home and we only get 3,800. Where have the other 1,500 gone?
"The chairman and I have worked tremendously hard to turn this club around and get people in. We are clear at the top of the League and only get 3,800. I look at Bristol Rovers last week, fifth from bottom playing Orient and there's 6,900 there. Why can't we get that?
"If we can't get people here when we are top of the League what chance do we have? The boys have worked so hard at Southend and then come back home and see all these empty seats.''
And Turner believes that fans can no longer use past failings as an excuse.
"People a few years ago would say 'we've had 20 years of failure here' but now for three years we have had success,'' he said.
And Turner joked: "There'll be a good crowd here on Friday because they can have a night out down Church Street as well and Newcastle aren't on TV!"
Murphy made a swift debut yesterday, playing at left-back for the reserves against Mansfield, and will go into tomorrow's squad.
Adam Boyd scored Pool's goal in the 1-1 draw.
Read more about Hartlepool here.
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