Sunderland manager Simon Grayson has warned supporters that a turnaround in the club's fortunes "won't happen overnight".
The Black Cats' 10-year tenure in the Premier League came to an end last season as they were relegated in last place, with David Moyes subsequently resigning as manager and Grayson being appointed in his place.
Despite being tipped by many as one of the favourites for promotion this term, life back in the second tier has been tough going for the North-East side and after the first 10 games, they find themselves one from bottom in the Championship table with just one league win to their name all season.
That run leaves them 17 points adrift of leaders Cardiff City almost two months into the campaign, but Grayson insists that he "needs time" if he is to master a turnaround.
"Since I've been at the club I've tried to stress that we want to get promotion but we've not spent the money that other clubs have, but also we've not got a God-given right to it," the former Preston North End manager said in an interview with Sky Bet.
"We've got to have a sense that it's a work in progress, I don't really like using that word too much, but it is because of the turnaround of players that have gone out the club and everybody knows there isn't the finances available because of what happens.
"There is a hangover from the Premiership days, no doubt, but what we wanted to do is try and create some positivity, get the players playing for the shirt and get an affiliation back with the supporters and that won't happen overnight.
"You need to get the team to gel and working like you want it to work, because it took me two or three years to do that at Preston, you have to build slowly, you have to build window to window and be given time to allow that to happen."
Grayson takes his charges to Deepdale in their final fixture before the international break on Saturday.
