Ottawa Fury FC's official supporters' groups will remain in the south stands, after all.

After discussions between the club and the likes of Stony Monday Riot and Bytown Boys in the wake of a few complaints following Fury FC's first match at TD Place a couple weeks ago, the idea of moving the flag-waving, drum-banging, song-singing fans across the pitch to the north side appears to be dead in the water.

In what can't possibly shock anyone who has ever gone to a large event in Ottawa -- be it sports, a concert, etc. -- some taking in their first Fury soccer match objected to the festivities designed to get the crowd into the game against the New York Cosmos.

The club pondered its options and floated the idea to the groups that they move across the field, pointing out it might actually give the groups better visibility being across from the crowd. The groups quickly rejected the idea, though the suggestion by some that the club was trying to force them out of section W was overblown.

But since most of the north stands -- with the exception of the field-level sections -- typically won't be used for Fury matches, the groups weren't exactly fond of the idea of setting up shop in the otherwise empty seats. Tough to encourage people to join in from that distance, after all.

And thus, the superfans will stay put in W.

That was an easy issue to settle compared to the concept of get people to stop sitting on their hands and give the noise complaints a rest.

Those complaints, presumably by people whose only soccer-watching experience involves watching their five-year-olds scramble around a pitch, forced Fury FC to wade into the undesirable area of keeping both its biggest fans and the regular folks around them happy.

"We ask that you help us in defining our section, section W, as a Supporters Section, and allow us to grow over time," Stony Monday Riot wrote in a message to Fury FC.

To the club's credit, it seems to be on board with that plan by letting the supporters stay where they while turning its attention to filling the nearby seats with other like-minded fans through a "We are section W" campaign.

That section will be marketed to more intense fans, at the same time challenging the supporters groups to recruit and expand their numbers to fill the section. The whiners -- whom you have to think are the same people that complain about people standing at Bluesfest from the comfort of their lawn chairs -- will get to sit somewhere acceptably quiet.

Confidence lacking, says Dos Santos

Training has been hard and intense for Fury FC this week as it aims to rebound from an ugly 3-0 loss in Carolina last weekend and coach Marc Dos Santos wants the level even higher.

"We need to work more," he said. "We work a lot, but maybe a lot is not enough.

"We have to be reminded a couple of times that we are new kids on the block."

Dos Santos is sending his players the message that they have to be better but also to stay positive "in the sense that (Saturday) was the only game that we got a big slap."

"We could take it as everything is wrong and we have to change everything, but no, I fully trust the guys we have," Dos Santos said.

Trust or not, the team needs goals after being shut out in four straight matches, five if you count the recent friendly against Glasgow Rangers FC. Dos Santos said part of it is confidence, which is why he had forwards and offensive midfielders come early to training and work on finishing. He points to striker Tommy Heinemann's decision to try and feed Vini Dantas instead of taking a shot while in alone against Carolina.

"A forward that is in a very high mode of confidence, he finishes that ball," he said.

Defender Mason Trafford said the team just needs one goal and more will come.

"It feels like it's going to come (soon) offensively, we have the players for it," he said. "We have the right style of play and we create chances. Everyone has confidence that it will happen and when it does, we'll be due for a few."

SIDELINES

The club has yet to make it official but it seems unlikely guest goalkeeper coach Bruce Grobbelaar will be going anywhere this season. He fits in with the coaching staff and the keepers all like working with the legendary former Liverpool keeper ... Fury FC will visit Minnesota Saturday and attempt to end its slump against the second-place team on the league table. Minnesota has seven points to Ottawa's single from the season-opening scoreless draw in Edmonton ... After returning from Minnesota, Fury FC will have a two-match homestand as it hosts Fort Lauderdale Aug. 9 and San Antonio Aug. 17.