I sat next to Harry Redknapp and David Gower on Tuesday at the Rose Bowl lunch celebrating the 15th anniversary of Leukaemia Busters.

Harry arrived late and said he had gone to the wrong cricket ground!

The last time I had been with Harry socially was playing in a golf tournament for Bob Wilson's charity the Willow Foundation.

We met at Dennis Roach's hotel in Christchurch for early morning coffee - and, by the way, what a good week Dennis has had with two of his prize clients being placed at Saints and Wolves.

Harry, knowing the area, said I had to follow him in my car to the golf course. After ten minutes of driving we arrived. When we got out I said "Not many here, Harry."

We eventually realised it was the wrong course!

But there's no doubt in my mind that Harry arrived at the right football ground this week. It's a club I will be forever associated with but, along with others such as Mick Channon, I have been very concerned about the possible loss of top-flight status.

However, I am sure that, given the normal luck any manager hopes for on the field and in the treatment room, things will turn for the better.

From a player's point of view, they will know exactly where they stand. Established managers have no need to impress anyone, their CV comes before them.

Sometimes the odd individual doesn't appear to be too bothered but, rest assured, all players want to be in a winning side and part of a club playing in the top flight.

They relish the visits to Old Trafford, Highbury and Anfield and can't wait for the home games against the big boys.

Of course, the difference at Southampton is that, while not being classed as a potential championship-winning team, the big boys never used to relish playing against us on our home patch.

Harry, I have no doubt, can bring back those days.

As an aside, at the Rose Bowl I had to laugh when the lady handing out the name badges failed to recognise me and handed me Harry's instead.

But I didn't look at the badge before putting it on, and it was only when David Gower pointed it out to me that we all realised the mistake, and Harry could hardly stop laughing.

I forgot to look at whose badge Harry was wearing!