Wheater seeks a return to glory

Last updated : 16 October 2010 By Northern Echo

Up to 5,000 supporters from Leeds United are expected to significantly boost the attendance on Teesside for this evening's encounter, providing an opportunity for Boro's players to play in a better atmosphere to what they have become used to in recent weeks.

Wheater fully understands the frustrations of the supporters who have witnessed Boro slip down the league table, following a summer in which a recruitment drive led to them being installed as favourites for promotion.

But a situation in which gates have dropped by more than 6,000 since the start of the campaign has left Wheater comparing home matches to his younger days, when he would turn out for the second team.

Sometimes you come out and it feels like a reserve game at the Riverside, said Wheater. When I was younger we used to have reserve games there with the fans just on one side, just one little square-full. It feels like that because there are so many empty seats you can see when you play.

I remember coming to games as a fan, the Carling Cup games were the best with all those flags and stuff when we reached the final, like when we played Liverpool, it was really great. I just want those times back again. Hopefully we can do that.

Despite the general belief that attendance figures have dropped at the Riverside because of Boro's failings on the pitch, Wheater also thinks there are other reasons, most notably the economic climate which has had a huge effect on the area.

However, the 23-year-old accepts an improvement in the way the team is playing, finding more consistency, is the best way to win back the hearts and minds of disgruntled supporters.

It's not just the football, it's the financial side as well, he said. Ticket prices are quite expensive, not just here but everywhere, but the football certainly helps. People won't pay a lot of money to watch boring football. I certainly wouldn't.

We need to bring the good football back that fans want to come and watch.

There has been a great degree of criticism hurled in the direction of Strachan after a run of just one win from their last six Championship matches, leaving them just three points above the relegation zone and nine shy of second spot.

Wheater's Teesside roots, he was born in Redcar and still lives in the area, means he is an easier target than most off the pitch, when those who know him might want to air their complaints even if he has been playing quite well.

You can just tell when we're winning. Everyone's smiling and happy and stuff.

It's not really stick, more questions that you don't really want to answer, he said.

On a night out with your family or you're in a restaurant, someone will come up to ask what's happening.

Sometimes you just want to take your mind off it, but you're going to get that all the time.

In the aftermath of Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League, he attempted to get away from the mess by heading to a retreat in the Scottish highlands for a break.

Last summer, I got a fan in Aberfeldy come up to me, he said. I was in this little cottage right in the middle of nowhere. We went for a drink in the local and there was a lad from Middlesbrough up there working.

When it was my turn to go to the bar, he looked over and said Davie! It is you!' Right in the middle of bloody Scotland.

He was all right with me. It was the middle of nowhere, you couldn't get a mobile reception or anything like that.

Wheater expects even greater criticism if Boro fail to turn things around in the next few weeks, starting today against Leeds, who can climb into the play-off zone.

But despite the feeling of apathy around the Riverside, the centre-back wants the supporters to be optimistic, claiming Boro should not be giving up on the automatic promotion places.

Wheater said: We don't want to leave it until Christmas or whenever, we need to start it now. In this division with a few wins you're right back up there.

The manager has been criticised recently, but you do need to see him on a regular day-to-day basis to get to know what he's like and realise what he's like.

He's great, very funny but people who're not around him every day might have been offended by what he said (on the radio). We weren't.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson has paid tribute to Strachan's successful six-year spell at Elland Road.

The Boro boss skippered Leeds to the First Division title when Grayson was a trainee at the club, and set a standard his former teammate has been striving to match ever since.

Grayson said: What I remember most about Gordon is him running up and down the touchline, working his socks off. He was a fantastic captain for Leeds United during a successful period.

That midfield of Strachan, (Gary) McAllister, (Gary) Speed and (David) Batty was some line-up. He didn't have the privilege of playing with me, mainly because he didn't play in the reserves!

Seriously, I have the utmost respect for Gordon. He set me on my way as a young pro and taught me a lot. He had a huge amount of guidance on my career.

Source: Northern Echo

Source: Northern Echo