What next for Southampton FC?

Following last night's emotionally-draining defeat - exactly two years to the day since relegation from the Premiership - what will the next few weeks bring?

George Burley's players start their summer break today.

When they return at the beginning of July - barely seven weeks time - what kind of club will they find?

Who will be in charge of boardroom affairs?

Will the current regime put in place by Michael Wilde still be at St Mary's?

Or will the power be held by American billionaire Paul Allen?

Failure to win promotion this season has always carried with it the very real threat of major cost-cutting at the club this summer.

There are no more parachute payments now.

A trip to Scunthorpe is on next season's agenda.

Saints could also be going to Blackpool.

Those last four sentences are miserable ones to take in on a day like this. The pain of last night is still too fresh, too vivid.

But if there is the proverbial silver lining to the cloud of a third successive season outside the elite, then it's in the shape of a potential saviour coming in to rescue the club. And make no mistake, rescue' is the operative word.

It is impossible to expect any true Saints fan to be smiling today.

They can be proud of their team, yes, for pushing Derby all the way.

In the final reckoning, they are cruelly unlucky not to be off to Wembley.

The possible arrival of Paul Allen at St Mary's will return the smiles.

Who knows what could come out in the wash as the post-mortem into Saints' 2006/07 campaign cranks into action.

But, as is usual with Saints, it will be fascinating to see what could happen next.