DIEHARD Saints fan Dave Ford is backing the Daily Echo's safe standing campaign.

Ford (pictured right) is a regular in the Northam Stand and last season was the Saints fan regularly featured on the now-defunct ITV Premiership Parliament programme.

He admits his match-day enjoyment is being slightly tarnished. "Having to tell people to sit is causing bad feeling in the Northam, and I don't want to fall out with Saints fans," he said.

"I don't go to Saints to argue with fellow fans, I go to support the team. That's what we should all be doing.

"I do feel that what's happened in the Northam this season has affected that stand's vocal backing for the team.

"I don't want fans standing up all the time and making themselves martyrs.

"The only way we can change things is to club together and attempt to push change through parliament."

Fans standing in the Northam have continually been asked, by the club and through articles in the Echo, to sit and Ford said: "The message is getting through. It was a lot, lot better in the Blackburn game."

Ford said: "I prefer to stand, and I would definitely be in favour of safe standing areas. I'm sure most of the fans in the Northam would be in favour to."

He added: "I don't think sitting down affects the way we vocally back the team, though I know people who do.

"We've sat down at away games and the atmosphere hasn't been affected, but I still want safe standing areas.

"I remember when the Taylor Report came out and nobody really complained about it. I know I didn't kick up a fuss - we thought that was the law and that was that.

"I was a bit concerned about all-seater stadiums because I knew Hillsborough wasn't caused by people standing.

"But now it's definitely safer to watch football, and the German system of retractable seats is the answer.

"I don't blame Southampton FC for all the problems this season. It's down to the law and I just think all genuine supporters associations should join together in a bid to force change."

Ford not only watched Saints' game at Newcastle last weekend, he was at Anfield a day later to see Sunderland - who include his brother-in-law Jody Craddock - draw 0-0 at Liverpool.

"All the fans I spoke to at the games thought it was a really positive mood to try and get safe standing debated," he said.

"The Newcastle fans all wanted to stand anyway, but none of them really wanted to do anything for a campaign which was a bit negative."

Regarding Saints' display at Newcastle, Ford admitted: "For the first 20 minutes we played them off the park.

"I totally agree with what Strachan said - if Shearer had been on our side we would have won, he'd probably have have three or four goals.

"Beattie scored a great goal, but after that he didn't do a great deal - but he always gives 100 per cent and I'm not knocking him.

"But we need to start taking our chances.

"I'm sure it will all click soon and we'll really batter someone - like we did at Leicester and Chelsea last season."

While praising Fabrice Fernandes - "he's a far better player than he was last season" - Ford also highlighted Claus Lundekvam's performances at the heart of the rearguard.

"He's one of the most under-rated centre halves in the country. I could talk about Claus all day - he doesn't really get the credit he deserves."