SO, it's all over for Paul Sturrock after little more than five months.

And the question on the lips of every Saints fan will be very simple. Why?

After just 13 games in charge, five of which Saints won, why?

Saints gave nothing away in their club statement issued this morning.

Pathetically and rather predictably, they tried to divert attention to the media - who in recent weeks have correctly reported senior people at the club telling them Sturrock's position is in serious peril.

I'm afraid that chairman Rupert Lowe would do well to show a bit more humility when he is apportioning blame.

First, he knows as well as anyone, that the speculation surrounding Sturrock could have been killed off by himself at any time in the last few weeks. Something along the lines of, "Paul Sturrock has my full support and will remain in charge for the foreseeable future," would have done the trick.

Simply stating that Sturrock was manager until the board decided otherwise said it all.

Saints' current explanation for their latest managerial casualty is a total cop-out. What's more, it is a cop-out which treats the fans with contempt.

The truth of the matter is that Sturrock has left because Lowe, his board, and many of the players seem to have concluded he was not up to the job.

Lowe should have the courage to admit that. And if he wants to avoid being the subject of a lot of criticism, he should fully explain why there was a feeling that Sturrock - a decent man - was not right.

People might then understand if they could see that Lowe had no choice but to act decisively. Indeed, he would even earn credit by conceding that he now feels he got the appointment wrong back in March.

All of this, though, is unlikely. Admitting mistakes is hardly Lowe's style.

But he should be careful. Blaming others for the current situation is fine, but he is the man supposed to be running the club. Indeed, by pointing to the media, he is effectively saying that he is not in control of the club.

"The board runs the club not the media," Lowe said only on Saturday. Hardly any more, according to his own statement this morning.

Leadership is not about pointing the finger everywhere else, but taking firm decisions and explaining honestly why they are correct.

Once again, let's get one thing straight.

This situation was NOT started by the media, but by a genuine feeling WITHIN Saints that Sturrock was not right.

Yet in his statement this morning Lowe says: "The people responsible for perpetrating this unsatisfactory situation, often in return for financial reward, should take a long hard look at themselves."

I don't know about financial reward, but I do know that those responsible largely work at Southampton Football Club.

Let's hope they don't now compound the sorry situation further when justifying the demise of Luggy.

Saints fans await some proper answers.