KEVIN PHILLIPS believes Saints' current plight has stemmed from a lack of leadership - but the new skipper is now determined to lead from the front.

The 31-year-old is relieved to see the managerial situation settling with Harry Redknapp at the helm and is ready to take responsibility for spearheading the Premiership survival bid.

"There has not been that leadership on and off the pitch," admitted Phillips.

"That has coincided with that change of management which has not helped but the leadership definitely hasn't been there on and off the pitch and we have made too many awful mistakes, collectively and individually.

"But no one has ever grabbed hold of someone and said let's do this or let's do that. We have always tried to blame each other.

"Now it is time for people to start taking responsibility and that is what we have got to do.

"Now that Harry is here we all know what is happening off the pitch, we have got a settled manager and now I feel good and I have shown that in my performances."

As captain, Phillips says he is more than happy to dish out some home truths to his team-mates if necessary, but is planning to lead by example.

He said: "I have never been made captain for a run of games. The odd game when I was at Sunderland but I am proud to lead the team out.

"I have tried to lead by example but I am not a Roy Keane who will go flying into crunching tackles and will absolutely hammer someone.

"I am quite vocal throughout a game but what I try to do is lead by example.

"I would like to think that I have done that since I have been captain.

"People probably look at me as one of the most senior players in the team now so, if they see me trying my hardest and working really hard, then hopefully that will lift everyone else.

"I wouldn't be worried about giving somebody a rollicking but as I said I am not one to come in and rant and rave.

"On the pitch you have got to say things, though, but at the moment I think it is important to try and encourage people.

"The more you have a go at someone it is so easy for them just to slip into a shell but the more you encourage players I feel that gets the best out of people.

"Don't get me wrong, you do need to rollick people now and again but at the moment encouragement can be a massive thing."

Phillips hopes Redknapp is a long-term appointment after also working under Gordon Strachan, Paul Sturrock and Steve Wigley in the last 12 months.

He said: "In his first game the manager made me captain so I felt he has shown belief in me and I have got to try and pay that back to him. It has given me that little bit more responsibility on the pitch, I have tried to handle that and it has shown.

"The one thing about Southampton over the years is that they have never really had a lot of stability. Whenever I have looked down here, they have changed their manager so many times and that cannot be good.

"But it looks like we have got a bit of stability back with the manager now. If he can start creating what he did at Portsmouth then hopefully we will be fine."

Saints Under-18s prepared for Wednesday's FA Youth Cup clash against Norwich by beating West Ham 3-1 yesterday - their 17th win in 18 games.