The dreaded "R" word has started to be mumbled among Leeds United supporters, but with two-thirds of the season left to play, American winger Eddie Lewis says the team haven't yet thrown in the towel.

While most pundits had projected Leeds United for promotion, if not outright winners of the Coca-Cola Championship, the storied squad sit 23rd out of 24 teams after 13 contests.

"The players are very confident we can turn things around, but it is only going to come through results," the California native told YA.

"Any time you are losing games, team confidence always drops to a certain extent - just as winning breeds confidence."

The first casualty of the disastrous early season was Kevin Blackwell, who was shown the door in mid-September - ironically following a win - and Leeds brass appointed then-assistant John Carver interim manager.

Carver's first game at the helm was a win over Birmingham, but the club has followed that with five consecutive losses.

"Sometimes playing well and giving it everything isn't enough," insisted Lewis. "The most important thing is going to be the results."

"Any time a manager leaves there is always a change but I don't think the players believe it has dramatically altered us," he said.

"It is not as though a new manager has come in and brought in seven or eight guys which might have disrupted things."

The results did not come with the interim coaching change and United finally decided on a new boss, bringing in former England international Dennis Wise, whose career was marked as much by his off-field exploits as of those on it.

His first match comes after a another loss, this time a home Carling Cup exit to Southend - and the Elland Road events continue to surprise.

The team makeup at Elland road is much the same as last year - only forward Rob Hulse and midfielder Jermaine Wright are no longer with the club - seemingly leaving them ingredients to make another run at promotion.

"It is a strong group of guys though and everyone in the squad are pretty strong characters," offered Lewis. "They have played in some decent teams and should be resolute."

Leeds has one of the strongest fan bases in all of England, with supporters following the club all over the country. But with more losses at home this year than all of last year, and less than half the points at the same point in time last year, the faithful are growing restless.

"Ideally, we would like to give our fantastic fans more to cheer about. They show up in great numbers and follow us all over the country home and away," Lewis lamented

"I think the players would like nothing more than to give them something happy to go home with. And at this moment in time, it is a matter of stability before we consider anything else."

The descent has been quick and alarming, leaving anyone associated with the club grasping for answers.

"Everyone is trying to figure out why things have changed on the pitch and I don't know what the answer is," Lewis opined.

"The players are not contributing enough and we need to find ways to start winning again. Unfortunately, it is a little bit more complex than that."

"The important thing is Leeds put on a good performance and get a result. It is important we get back to winning ways. The players are the ones responsible and it is the players' futures and careers that are at stake."

"In the end, it is going to take the squad and group as a unit to dig ourselves out."