20 Key Things We Learned From Newcastle's Fans Forum Minutes

7. A New "Culture Of Respect" Will Be Implemented... And Discipline Will Be Paramount

As first revealed exclusively by whatculture.com/nufc on Tuesday, Steve McClaren has claimed that he wants to implement a new "culture of professionalism" at Newcastle - and a new level "respect" will also be brought in too. When speaking at the beginning of the Fans Forum, McClaren stated:

"My first job at the training ground is to create that culture of professionalism. That has to be the first success, then we're building on that with recruitment - which is being worked on day and night relentlessly. Despite what you may read or hear, that's what has been happening." "I've been asking why is it that fans - who are the most important people - are questioning some of the players' attitudes, ability, talent and things like that. It's asking the players that question - why. They get to answer that. We believe with a change of culture and approach, we can change them. Will we change them enough so that they'll improve and come with us to get back in your good books? That's down to them entirely. "We want to give the leaders, the senior players more respect and more authority within the group. That helps young players."

Also, McClaren was keen to stress that the embarrassing spate of ill-discipline and string of red cards that affected the club last season would not be replicated going forward. He added:

"The present staff have been fantastic. They've been really good. The players have come in and we've set out our culture, our rules. Discipline is the key to it. "We've stressed from day one the kind of discipline we expect from players, as well as the discipline that they expect from us. We ask them to be professional; to do the right thing every day. Everybody knows what's right and what's wrong and we ask them to come in and do the right thing, to be professional."

Let's hope McClaren's words do no fall on deaf ears, and that changes arrive at Newcastle quickly - because the club was rotten to the core last season, and things need to be different going forward.