I HAVE to mention Steve Wigley this week. I only met him briefly on a couple of occasions and he was certainly likeable and respectful.

I can understand his popularity among the players and staff.

I said earlier in the week he possibly should not have been put into the situation he was - especially when he had stated he much preferred coaching to managing at this stage of his career.

The unfortunate thing is, once having taken the position, you stand or fall by results. Steve's have not gone right for him and he possibly could now decide to take up the offer of coaching again lower down in the club.

It happened recently at Newcastle when the assistant manager to Sir Bobby Robson, John Carver, a loyal servant over many years, lost his position with the arrival of Graeme Souness. At first he declined an offer to run the academy but has since returned to that position.

If Steve decides he has to leave altogether, knowing the club as it always has been, he will be compensated financially in the short term and in his household there will be some sort of feeling of relief.

The burden on any manager's shoulders, no matter how experienced, during a bad run effects everyone in their house.

I speak from experience. The initial feelings of relief will wear off when the realisation hits home that there is no job to go out to each day.

Figures such as 60 applications in the first week for the manager's job at MK Dons and experienced names such as Dave Bassett, Colin Lee and Micky Adams failing to get the job at Gillingham make one realise how many people are chasing so few jobs.

No doubt Steve has many friends within in the game and will possibly find, as his pal Stuart Gray did after following a similar route at Saints, that a friend who is already managing may find an opening on his staff.

It means decisions as to whether to move with only a short-term contract or spend time living in a different part of the country from his family.

Paul Sturrock, another recent short-term tenant at Saints, was more fortunate than most.

His previous success at Plymouth enabled him to get in more quickly at Sheffield Wednesday, and most fair- minded people I'm sure would have been delighted to see him win a manager of the month award recently.

Let's hope Steve has a terrific Christmas and New Year. The best present of all for him and his family would be a good, stable job in the game which he obviously loves.