STEVE WIGLEY is confident he WILL still be in charge of Saints at the end of the season.

The head coach's job was the subject of days of speculation following the Carling Cup defeat at Watford with some papers even suggesting he could be replaced by Glenn Hoddle or Gerard Houllier today if Pompey had won at the weekend.

But Wigley's men, boosted by the return of a few players from injury, dug in and battled hard to win the first south coast derby of the season at St Mary's.

The game was Wigley's first Premier League win since taking over as boss and now leaves Saints unbeaten in four top flight matches.

He said: "I've spoken to the chairman a couple of times this week and never felt there was as big a problem as everybody was saying.

"If we'd have lost on Saturday then who knows? But we haven't.

"I believe I'll be here come the end on the season - I believe that.

"If I am then I'm sure we'll be in a decent position."

He continued: "He's given me great support over the last few weeks - bear in mind that's four games in the Premier League we've gone unbeaten.

"I refused to speak about me on Thursday because I it was important we focused on the game as a group and we did that.

"I told the players not to speak about my future but to focus on going out and playing in a controlled manner.

"I've always felt they've been with me and even more so this week."

Wigley now says he wants to draw a line under the speculation over his position - but is realistic enough to admit that depends on results.

"The chairman's always supported me - I've never asked for anything to be explained because he's supported me all along," he added.

"I'm positive he wants it to work.

"Unfortunately him and his board took some stick on Tuesday night but it wasn't them out there under-performing.

"But I want to focus on this win because I'm not talking about my future again because I'm sick of my mug on the papers - I've not been able to read the paper or put the telly on for three days.

"I have been fully aware I must have been taking some flack because I got so many messages and phone calls and people coming round to see me.

"That goes with the territory and we know that.

"I'm in charge. I'm remaining in charge. And I hope to be in charge at the end of the season."

Hoddle, meanwhile, insisted he has had NO contact with Saints over the possibility of him returning as the club's manager.

Newspaper speculation was rampant last Thursday that chairman Rupert Lowe wanted Hoddle to return to the club he walked out on back in March 2001.

"It's a little bit unfair," Hoddle said. "I can assure you I have had no contact from Southampton, it's paper talk.

"It's unfair on Steve Wigley who is trying to do a job. It's totally unfair and there's nothing in it."

As for whether he would be interested in the post if Wigley lost his job, Hoddle added: "It's a hypothetical question.

"Any Southampton fan out there should be getting behind their team and Steve Wigley. It's something that's not there (the offer) and rightly so while they have got a manager."

Hoddle added: "Everyone's after 'instant success' but when you go in as a manager now you know that."