FORMER Saints boss Dave Merrington has hit-out at the "ridiculous" extra pressure being put on Steve Wigley.

The Premier League have told Saints that Wigley will be ineligible to remain head coach for more than three months unless he obtains a UEFA pro-licence or FA coaching diploma.

Saints are appealing against this ruling as Wigley currently only has the UEFA A badge, with the pro-licence usually taking another year to obtain.

Wigley is already under pressure to establish himself in his new job and arrest the poor start to the season following the exit of Paul Sturrock after just two games.

Merrington, below, is now urging the Premier League to show some common-sense and give Wigley a more realistic amount of time to complete the formality of getting the pro-licence qualification.

"There is nothing wrong with having a new qualification, but it is wrong to only give someone a few months," he said.

"He has started the course and the chairman is happy with him, so I don't see what the problem is.

"It's ridiculous. The boy is just starting out and is under enough pressure without having to worry about getting this qualification within three months.

"It is sensible to have this qualification - if you are a doctor or a solicitor you have to be qualified and it should apply to football - but there's no need to be over-zealous about it."

Chairman Rupert Lowe, who sits as a Premier League representative on the FA Board, is in discussions about the situation and says he is "hopeful" the matter will be resolved.

Wigley wants to do the course as soon as possible, but it usually takes 12 months and includes a residential week in June.

In their appeal, Saints will ask for leeway, pointing to the fact it is impossible to gain a year's qualification in just three months.

In line with UEFA regulations, the Premier League has stipulated that you need either the FA coaching diploma or the pro-licence to be a head coach or manager.

A spokesman for the Premier League was yesterday unable to give any indication as to how long it would take to finally decide Wigley's fate.