CHRIS Turner is determined to put a smile back on the faces of County supporters following Stockport's relegation.

County became the first club to be relegated this season after going down 2-1 to Brentford on Saturday.

"The club needs a good season," said Turner.

"We've been going down quicker than the Titanic.

"The fans need rewarding for sticking with us, and that means we need to give them a good season at home, which doesn't necessarily mean automatic promotion or racing into the play-offs, it means doing well at Edgeley Park.

"Then anything else will be icing on the cake.

"I've told the players you can't play for better supporters and we have to give them something back."

A couple of hundred fans remained after Saturday's game to protest against club owners Cheshire Sport for their recent part in County's five-year decline.

A banner was unfurled reading `Thanks For Nothing Kennedy', but owner Brian Kennedy was not at Edgeley Park, choosing to see Sale Sharks in Ireland instead.

The Supporters Trust are continuing to meet with Cheshire Sport about taking over the day-to-day running of the club and have also been talking to Turner.

Progress

"I was pleased with what I heard from the Trust," added Turner. "All I know is that this all needs to be sorted out as soon as possible, so we can work out how we re going to progress next season."

County's 27th defeat of the season came about in frustratingly familiar fashion. After an abject first half, Brentford took the lead when County keeper James Spencer was only able to palm away Isaiah Rankin's cross, allowing Scott Fitzgerald a tap-in at the far post.

Adam Le Fondre earned County a penalty in the 80th minute when he was bundled over by Sam Sodje.

Le Fondre, whose youthful talent along with that of Michael Raynes and Damien Allen gives hope for the future, sent keeper Stuart Nelson the wrong way from the spot.

But with just four minutes left, Sodje atoned for his error by striking the winner after Fitzgerald's header had come back off the post.

"I thought the game typified what has gone wrong for us all season," said Turner. "We weren't outplayed, but we made mistakes and handed them two goals on a plate.

"When we got back to 1-1 I didn't think we were going to go on to win the game, but I thought we'd certainly get a draw. For a long time now it's felt like we are on a runaway train and we can't stop it. But it will stop in the summer!"

Turner also spoke about rumours that he could be rejoining his former club Hartlepool in the summer as a replacement for Neale Cooper, who has been linked with a move to Dundee United.

"There's absolutely nothing in it," Turner added. "My focus is on building a team and winning games with Stockport."

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