Crystal Bally

Ball does NOT buy into the theory that head coach Steve Wigley must be relieved of his duties should Saints lose tomorrow's crunch six-pointer at home to pre-season relegation favourites Crystal Palace.

Instead, he casts doubt on ANY manager's ability to revitalise the current squad UNLESS Lowe, below, opens the St Mary's chequebook to make multi-million pound signings in two months' time.

Yesterday Saints' legendary boss Lawrie McMenemy lamented the fact that more than 50 per cent of professional clubs in England and Wales have parted company with their manager for various reasons in the last 12 months alone.

"Why are all these managers being sacked or forced into resigning," the 1966 World Cup hero asked. "Because of the fear factor, because of the fear of not staying in the Premiership.

"Because of the absolutely incredible amounts of money involved, Sky have created a monster - and consequently chairmen are panicking like never before.

"There is a golden carrot for all Premiership clubs and chairmen are scared of failing to grab it."

Ball knows from personal experience the indignity of being sacked, and sympathises with Wigley, who he once signed for Pompey and Exeter City.

"Steve Wigley has got almost an impossible job - the pressure he is under so soon after he got the job is something I've never known, and it's down to the fear factor - as I said, it's ruining this league. The Premier League is nine months of fear.

"I would say that unless Saints strengthen in key areas in January, it would be hard for any manager to dramatically turn things around.

"They are going to have to work incredibly hard in matches because they lack real quality - they lack a creative midfielder and someone on the wing who can beat his man and get good crosses in. I've been banging on about that for over two years now.

"You have got what you have got, and you have to ask - is it enough to win enough matches?

"They have only won two out of the last 18 and that's worrying. You're looking at them possibly needing to win 10 more matches this season, and have they got the quality to do that?"

"A lot of it is down to confidence but I bet Saints can't wait for the transfer window to open as they need to improve the squad.

"If I was Steve Wigley I would be getting ready to bang the chairman's door down asking for money to buy the players they need.

"The squad has not got enough natural ability to win you enough games, but I'm sure Saints WILL strengthen.

"But Steve Wigley HAS to be allowed to buy the players he wants, not the chairman.

"Beattie recently said he knows when it will be time to go because the chairman will tell him when. Note not the manager, the chairman.

"The chairman is running the entire club - we all believe he signed Delgado, even Stuart Gray has come out and said it.

"So that answers all our questions - the guy who is running the entire club has to start making the right decisions to justify his King's ransom."

Not for the first time this season, a Saints home match has been billed by sections of the fanbase as a 'must-win' occasion.

Ball said: "How can you say Palace at home is a must-win? There's still over 20 games left to play this season - that's over 60 points to play for.

"I know some fans are panicking, but why? It comes back to the fear factor. Clubs and fans start every season frightened to death they might end up going down.

"The Premiership is a menace in that respect - money is ruining the league.

"Saints are currently in a dogfight and the only way they will get out of it is by working hard and getting some quality in in January - I haven't seen them play wonderful flowing football for quite a while now and you're not suddenly going to start seeing it now.

"They are not suddenly going to come out and pass teams off the park.

"They have got a great chance of staying up because the league is very poor, there's six or even other teams who have the same problems as Southampton.

"Saints haven't got the ability to win four or five in a row, but a lot of other teams haven't either.

"People say the game this weekend is a 'must-win' - they've been saying that for four or five weeks.

"The truth is the Palace game is important but they're all important and the game tomorrow is going to be no different to many other games Saints will play this season."

"Will the chairman make a change if they lose to Palace? I don't know.

"What I do know is that he should be taking a long hard look at himself and ask 'have I been making the right decisions' because he is accountable to the board and the supporters.

"Has he got to make a brave decision if Saints lose to Palace? He's got to make the RIGHT decision for the club, and that doesn't come down to being brave - he's being paid a King's ransom and he's got to start making the right decisions."