2nd April 2009

We've been dreading it all season, but after the events of the last two days its finally happened; Saints have gone into administration. The man being brought in to run the club Mark Fry claims the club in serious jeopardy of folding before the end of the season. If this happens it will be a tragedy not just for the city of Southampton, but for English football in general.

No club deserves to cease to exist (not even Pompey) and Southampton FC have a great history, bringing much to the British game. Saints previous FA Cup winners, spent 27 consecutive years in top flight football before relegation in 2005 and are statistically the 12th best Premiership team since the league's rebranding in 1992. You also have to look at the players that have come through the youth ranks, names including Mick Channon, who scored 21 goal for England and Alan Shearer, one of the best players in the world in the 1990s. Not forgetting Matt Le Tissier of course, one of the most talented, loyal, professional players ever to grace the game and devoted his entire career to the club. I believe Theo Walcott will one day become one the best players in the world and if the lad does make it he has Southampton FC's excellent youth academy to thank.

Then theres the fans. I'm sure I won't be the only one shedding a few tears if the unthinkable does happen and Saints cease to exist. I know people who have supported the team for more than 50 years, attending The Dell then St Marys week in, week out and to take away their beloved club would take away a huge part of their lives. I wasn't at the FA Cup Final in 2003, when Saints narrowly lost to Arsenal, but anyone who made the trip to Cardiff will tell you how passionate the fans were that day and made a strong case for being among the best in the country.

As supporters we can do our bit. Now that Rupert Lowe has finally gone, I expect to see all these stay away fans make an appearance at St Marys on Saturday, we need to fill the ground if we're going to show potential investors we're worth investing in. And I hope it won't just be The Northam singing their hearts out for the lads, as it usually is, we need more involvement from The Chapel, The Kingsland and The Itchen to create a real atmosphere. Any Southampton fans reading this, I hope you will be singing When The Saints Go Marching In at St Marys on Saturday, giving your full support to the team. And on the very slight chance any millionaires looking to buy a football club are out there reading this, I beg you to invest in the Saints, we've got some tough times ahead, but if you save us now and we one day reach the top again, you will be deserving of a place in Saints folklore among the likes of Ted Bates, Lawrie Mac and Matt Le Tissier.

I have a lot more to say on this matter and will update again soon, but for now I'm off to watch The Inbetweeners.