Is time right for demonstration?

The fans are planning to start their demonstration at 1pm - an hour before Saints aim to kickstart their season with victory in the crucial Premiership clash against Birmingham.

Saints skipper Andreas Jakobbson has admitted tomorrow's game is a 'must-win' one as Saints aim to end a run of seven league matches without a victory.

Season ticket holder Tina Williams, from Aldermoor, has been placing posters in pubs and shops around the city for a fortnight in a bid to bolster support.

Williams said: "We are a group of season ticket holders who are really concerned about what's going on.

"We will be asking for Rupert Lowe to come and meet us and answer some questions. But I don't think he will.

"We will not be calling for Lowe to stand down - we just want a quality Premiership manager appointed.

"We will be fully behind the team during the game. We will be handing out leaflets asking fans to sing throughout the game.

"We care about the team - that's why we feel they need a quality experienced manager.

"They played really well last week, they've just got a lack of direction and a lack of cohesion - all the things that a quality manager could bring them."

Williams and her group have been accused on Saints' fans' message boards of only adding to the feelings of unrest felt by many supporters and questioned the timing of the demonstration so close to a vital game.

But she insisted it was "logicistally" the best time to protest.

"We have had a lot of positive feedback," Williams added. "But there's also been some negative comments.

"Personally, I think it would be good if Lowe stood down - he certainly needs to step back from football matters, he's the chairman not the manager."

But the demonstration certainly hasn't won the backing of other Saints fans.

True Saints Association chairman Steve Godwin said he personally didn't agree with the demonstration, but defended those who will be protesting.

"I don't think it's the right time for such a demonstration - it will affect the players being on a match-day.

"I've no doubt those protesting will be supporting the team during the match but the players will see it or hear it on the way in to the ground - that's my worry.

"I have no problem with those protesting - it shows they have passion and I'll probably wander along to have a look - but the time to protest was at the shareholders meeting.

"If people had protested outside, that would have been seen by Rupert Lowe and other board members - that's the people you want to reach.

"To demonstrate before a game could be counter-productive.

"I'm sure the players are edgy when they play at St Mary's at the moment.

"At the TSA our line at the moment is hold fire on any demonstrations."

Beautiful South fanzine editor Daren Wheeler is also against demonstrating

"My own personal opinion - and it is my opinion as I'm not so arrogant as to believe that I speak for anyone apart from myself - is that getting rid of Rupert Lowe whilst the club is in crisis is madness.

"Does anyone really believe that matters on the pitch will suddenly improve if Lowe was to leave?

"The Rupert Lowe fiasco is not worth splitting the fanbase and causing such disharmony among us all.

"We should be looking to the season of the great escape for inspiration.

"A season where we were in far direr straits than we are in now and still stayed up.

"In that season we got together as a collective unit and literally dragged this club kicking and screaming to safety. No demonstrations, no left-wing politics

"The club needs you. The manager needs you and he's a decent bloke who deserves so much better than what he's been getting.

"It may not be easy but show a little faith, sing a little song and let the rest of the world know just how much we care about this club.

"Perhaps we've forgotten about it in the recent media blitz but it's the football we pay to see, not the politics.

"I'm not pro-Lowe or anti-Lowe, I'm just pro-Southampton ... and that's all that matters."