Six months ago Steve Wigley was adamant that life as a Premiership manager was not for him.

Wigley oversaw the post-Gordon Strachan draws against Everton and at Blackburn in February after becoming increasingly involved with the coaching of the first team under the Scotsman. But deep down he believed that he was at his best as director of youth and reserve team manager, and away from the spotlight of the Premiership.

All that has changed - but why?

"Unless I've gone a bit insane I'm not quite sure, but the reasons were the right ones at the time," said Wigley. "I looked at it and didn't feel it was right at the time. I had a thing in my mind that you had to work through a structure to be a Premier League manager. Some people who I speak to, managers that I've had and people that I respect in the game, didn't quite agree with me, they said there's no formula for management."

Now Wigley recognises that he is as qualified as anyone to manage in the Premiership despite a CV that includes only Aldershot Town among his former managerial posts - a two-year spell before he left to become Nottingham Forest's youth team coach in 1997.

"I expect people will have their reservations about what's happened. It's something that some people will question but I've got to get on with it and earn the respect of the supporters. I like to think I've got the respect of the players and if I didn't feel that I could do the job I wouldn't be here now.

"I've done all the jobs within the football club. I know the people very, very well and felt, in the end, that that had given me good preparation for the job. I looked around Europe at a lot of clubs that have promoted people from within the academy, up to the reserves and first-team structure and I feel like I can do the same."

Wigley revealed that he took seconds to accept Rupert Lowe's offer after a late phone call from the Saints chairman on Sunday night. "This was as quick a decision as I madelast time, but it's not one I've taken lightly.

"I wasn't expecting it. It's not something that I've craved, but I've given a lot of thought to what path I should take with my career."

Wigley is yet to speak to his players individually but told them of his new position as a group, soon after Paul Sturrock and Kevin Summerfield had said their farewells at Saints' Marchwood training ground yesterday morning.

One thing for sure is that he is desperate to keep James Beattie. "Without a shadow of a doubt," he replied, when asked if the striker was integral to his Saints' vision. A Premiership encounter with Bolton Wanderers at St Mary's tomorrow night is Wigley's immediate priority but amid the media chaos at Staplewood and St Mary's, he managed to spare a thought for his unfortunate predecessor.

"I'm gaining something here but there is a disappointment because someone has lost a job. The Premier league has become a soap opera, it sells papers and the fact that Sky TV has invested so much money in it has expanded the horizons but that also increases expectations and unfortunately a member of staff has lost his job. It's never nice when that happens. I wish Paul all the best but there's a sadness because of what Paul's family has had to go through lately.

"It wasn't right and it's something I've had to think about because there's no doubt that putting myself into this situation will have a knock-on effect on my family, who are very dear and close to me.

"But I've accepted the situation and my job now is to get the club moving forward, so people start talking about Southampton for things on the pitch."