KEY Saints director Guy Askham has scotched rumours he will retire today, saying the time's not right to leave the club he loves.

Askham, who has been with the club since he was 18, was widely expected to call it a day at today's board meeting, bringing the curtain down on 35 years as a director.

Together with wife Marlene, the 75-year-old controls a vital four per cent of the club that's been targeted by the rival camps vying to control Saints.

But weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations look to have come to nothing as ex- Saints chairman Askham said there was too much turmoil to quit now.

"It is absolutely not going to happen," he said. "I can understand how this rumour may have arisen but I have a duty to the staff and the shareholders to stay until all this has sorted itself out."

The news will come as a boost to beleaguered chairman Rupert Lowe, because Askham has been a supporter of the embattled board.

When recently asked by the Daily Echo if he supported Lowe he said he'd support the majority board view.

Askham, the man who first introduced Lowe to the club, has privately resigned himself to the possibility of his tenure coming to an inglorious end at an Extraordinary General Meeting in the coming weeks.

Along with other directors David Windsor Clive, Michael Richards, managing director Andrew Cowen and Lowe, Askham faces a humiliating ejection from the club if he loses a shareholder vote at an EGM.

Already considered a long shot to survive the EGM, Lowe would have little chance without the support of Askham, who has a lot of respect at St Mary's.

Saints biggest shareholder, property developer Michael Wilde, has called an EGM to remove five of the current board and replace them. He is standing for election along with Southampton construction magnate Patrick Trant, former Fulham FC chief executive Jim Hone, former Fulham deputy managing director Lee Hoos and experienced City businessman Ken Dulieu.

The date of the EGM is expected to be announced today.