WITH the wave of a wand, Saints' new £32m stadium has hopefully been rid of evil spirits.

Nick Illingworth, of Southampton FC Independent Supporters' Club, cast a magic spell on the ground to ward off a cunning plot by arch rivals Pompey.

Saints' fans were furious after hearing how Portsmouth supporters had tried to curse the new stadium in St Mary's.

Builders who follow Pompey were blamed for burying one of their own club's shirts at the ground, as revealed on the front page of Saturday's Daily Echo.

It is feared other hidden Portsmouth items, including a blue and white scarf, could be hidden at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium in a bid to scupper Southampton's success next season.

But Saints fans can sleep soundly in their beds, safe in the knowledge the sacred turf has been cleansed of any bad spirits.

Mr Illingworth said the stadium, built on an old Saxon site, already had its own legendary figure keeping a watchful eye over it - in the shape of Sir Bevois.

The famous knight, after whom Bevois Valley is named, is supposed to have returned to Southampton after slaying a dragon and was hailed as the city's guardian.

Mr Illingworth said: "Leg-end has it that Sir Bevois has vowed to protect us against all invaders - and I'm sure that would include Pompey fans.

"Workers at the new stadium have reported ghostly goings on in the night so perhaps our ancestors are protecting us from the Pompey hoards."

One theory behind the Portsmouth plot to blight the new stadium is that Pompey supporters are getting their own back for the pro-Southampton slogans etched in concrete at Fratton Park.

Builders who support Saints left their mark when the stand at the Fratton end of the stand was rebuilt in 1997.

But Mr Illingworth said: "We have no plans to get our own back for this latest escapade. Saints fans would have no reason to visit the Portsmouth ground. We wouldn't stoop so low."

The Pompey shirt was swiftly dug up by vigilant Saints supporters after Portsmouth sub-contractors had knocked off for the day.

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has dismissed the Pompey plot as "puerile" and said tight security measures would ensure nothing else could be buried beneath the turf.