Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain is confident that manager David Moyes' long-term vision will turn things around for the Black Cats.
Moyes, who replaced Sam Allardyce in charge of Sunderland during the summer, is yet to win a game this season which has the Black Cats currently sitting at the bottom of the league table with just two points from their opening eight games.
Some reports have suggested that Sam Allardyce is being considered to replace Moyes at the Stadium of Light but Bain is confident that the former Everton and Manchester United boss is the right man to get things back on track on Wearside.
"It's been a turbulent start," Bain told the club's official website.
"From a football perspective we aren't where we want to be, but from a personal perspective I've got a good feel for the people and I had to understand the identity of the club before I could make recommendations.
"David is an experienced manager and he is a character. I think he is in the top four most experienced managers in the Premier League in terms of games managed.
"Fundamentally, that experience, coupled with David's longer term approach [was why we wanted him]. He is a builder. He understands the need to win, first and foremost, but in parallel, he understands that the job he has come here to do – and the job I have come here to do – is to build, to rebuild really.
"I think it is apparent to everybody that we have a journey we have to embark on here. So when I first met David, we talked a little bit about the past, but we can't change the past.
"We can certainly change the future. From both our perspectives it's about rebuilding, lets' do the basics right. That's the biggest message I want to get across, we want to get back to basics.
"We have a North East football club that needs to be synonymous with the North East. I think this club has lost its identity. It has tried to be a club that is not.
"Let's build and let's take a longer term approach. This is a rebuilding plan and I hope the fans can stick by their club and I'm sure they will, because there has been a lot of suffering here."
"My daily task at the moment with David is to strengthen this team and to give him every possible opportunity to succeed."
