RUPERT LOWE and Harry Redknapp are preparing to trim the playing staff in January.

With 36 first-team players, the duo agree that the squad is on the large side and are keen to instil stiff competition for places.

The Saints chairman said: "Most people would see the squad is as strong as it has been for many years in terms of numbers.

"In fact we have probably got too many players.

"What we need to do is work out where we are strong and where we are weak and put the situation right.

"The opinion, having discussed it with Harry, is that we have a very large first-team squad which we need to look at."

Redknapp stressed that quality was the key ingredient.

"I haven't really had a chance to look at the squad," said the new Saints manager. "I've got to pick a team with the help of one or two people who were here before.

"You need a big squad but it's all about quality - that's what you need.

"We'll see how we go and see what we do in January.

"I don't really know now - I'll know in a week or two what we need.

"I haven't spoken to the chairman about transfers. The only time I spoke to him was Monday and it was talking about the staff and the set-up."

Saints are desperate for some pace and creativity from midfield, but Lowe was typically coy when discussing the funds available to Redknapp next January.

"We never disclose how much money we have to spend until when and if it is the right thing to do," said the Saints chairman.

"We will make available the funds that we think are necessary and it will be a discussion between Harry and myself and, where the club can afford it, we'll support Harry.

"But we don't want to end up like clubs who have over-spent and suffer the consequences down the line.

"If we do that, it is not necessarily this generation of players that suffer but the next generation and the next generation of supporters."

Lowe, though, has great faith in the quality of the players he has, including those at the younger end of the club.

He said: "We still have the squad - the squad was fourth when I sat down to eat my Christmas turkey last year and there is no reason why they can't perform better than they have been.

"We have got a very large squad but we have also get very talented younger players who have had an opportunity to play this season as we have had some very bad problems with injuries.

"The aim is making sure it is the right size, but not shutting out those people who are coming through.

"Young players are important, particularly those who come through the academy, because they understand the culture of the club.

"Structurally, though, we are in good shape."

Already the rumour mill has cranked into gear following Redknapp's arrival, with Alexei Smertin, who was on loan to Pompey last season from Chelsea, linked with Saints.

Smertin impressed in central midfield in making 23 league appearances plus three as a sub for Pompey, though he failed to score.

This season the Russian, 29, has made seven Premiership starts under Jose Mourinho and four in the European Champions League.

Grasshoppers Zurich's attacking midfielder, 25-year-old Ricardo Cabanas, has also been linked. The former captain of the Swiss Under-21s has won 17 caps for the senior side.

Meanwhile, bookies in the East Midlands have been fielding calls on Jim Smith to be appointed the next manager of Nottingham Forest if Joe Kinner resigns or is sacked.

Smith spent a successful time as manager of Forest's neighbours Derby from 1995 to 2001.