For the last seven years I have purposely resisted all requests and temptations to get involved in any politics involving the Saints.

Everyone knows my association. I often bump into people around the country and even abroad who still think I'm involved.

I find it easier to say nothing, but in the wake of Paul Sturrock's departure I, along with the likes of Mick Channon and Alan Ball, have been bombarded with one common question.

What is happening at your club?

I have to hold my hands up and say I know as much as anyone else who supports from a distance, although obviously we tend to pick up more informed rumours than most.

Having to defend seven managers in seven years is almost impossible, although I don't know all the specifics involved.

You only need to give one TV or radio interview for it to be picked up on the wires, as they say, and the following day you find yourself quoted in every national paper, without actually having spoken to a journalist.

I have generally tried to talk about management, namely the differences between when I was involved and now.

What makes the Saints situation so striking is that at one time we probably held the record for the least number of managers, with Ted Bates and I doing 30 years between us.

Now we have another record which I'm sure no one, inside or outside the club, would have wanted.

What has happened to Paul has undoubtedly cast a shadow over our club at the beginning of a season when everyone should be up for the task ahead.

Players should be fresh and eager to impress and supporters queueing up to get the adrenaline injection which they have missed.

But unfortunately the talk has been more about so-called failure and doom and gloom rather than how well the team will do, and how we expect to climb in the league.