SAINTS fans could soon be handed the chance to have a bigger say in the running of their club.
The reformed Saints Independent Supporters Association and the True Saints Association supporters group are currently investigating the prospect of setting up a shareholders trust-style organisation.
Both have had discussions with members of the high profile Manchester United group Shareholders United who have been high profile in the past few days.
But leading figures in each group confess they will HAVE to work together if they want to make any such group at Saints a success.
The concept of a supporters trust is simple - fans with small shareholdings group together to give themselves a bigger collective voice.
Richard Chorley said: "A supporters trust group can work in Southampton - but only if there's no carping about those that are prepared to put their heads above the parapet and get things done.
"What they have done at Manchester United is to let the people who can run these things run them.
"At United they have stockbrokers, lawyers and solicitors involved. That's how they have helped to organise themselves properly.
"The one problem we do have in Southampton is that the city is more like a village.
"It could be hard to get the sort of people we need to get involved.
"But if a supporters trust started up it wouldn't necessarily just be to keep an eye on those running the club.
"If we could get something like 30 per cent of the shares then we could have a big say in things."
Chorley and SISA colleague Perry McMillan have been criticised on fans' websites in recent days, and Saints even did likewise - though they did not name the duo - on their own club website.
But Chorley said: "I don't see any negatives in what we are trying to do - this is not a revolutionary force.
"What we are advocating is something that is nationally recognised.
"The fact we haven't got a supporters trust group here in Southampton beggars belief."
True Saints Association chairman Steve Godwin revealed his group would one day like to purchase shares in bulk so everyone who becomes a member gets a free one.
"A supporters trust is a great idea because it gives you more power," he said. "And in these days of PLC football it's the only real way fans can get more power."
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