IT'S good to see next season's football fixtures being published. Let's hope for a better season ahead.

Sunderland and Newcastle now have permanent managers and directors promising funds for quality players so there may be some hope for us all. Along with Hartlepool, it was a dire season checking every week the relegation spots and hoping for other teams in a similar position to get beat to maintain our safety.

The football Sunderland and Newcastle served up to full stadiums last season was shocking to watch. It can surely only get better.

We supporters again look forward with optimism and, after studying the fixtures, I think we could be top of the league by December.

We might even win the cup.

Eric Schofield, Crook