A segment of Chiba fans have been rallying their support behind Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine, who has not been invited to return to the team once his current four-year contract expires at the end of the season.
Fans in favor of the 59-year-old Valentine's return have collected about 110,000 signatures and submitted them on Monday at the head office of the team's parent company, Lotte Co., in Tokyo to the attention of Lotte team owner Takeo Shigemitsu.
Valentine, one of the most successful foreign managers in Japanese baseball, has said that he wants to continue managing the Pacific League club, which he led to a Japan Series title in 2005.
"It's an honor to have people care about me. The fandom in Chiba is passionately committed and best you will find," Valentine said.