SAINTS fans are some of the gloomiest pessimists when it comes to their team's performance on the field, according to a report.

The Football Fan-tasy report by Littlewoods Football Pools says that most football fans live in a fantasy world of eternal optimism and high hopes.

But the most pessimistic supporters were from Saints, Mansfield Town, Bournemouth and Brentford.

Tottenham fans toppped the Dreamers Index along with Manchester City's sky blues for having sky-high expectations.

Hull City, Hartlepool and Morecambe harboured the most unrealistic hopes of clubs from the lower leagues.

Littlewoods questioned almost 6,000 supporters from all 92 league clubs, ranking each club by comparing fans' predictions for the next five years with the team's actual performance over the past five years.

The report says: "Saints fans are dreading a depressing few years.

"The majority don't expect to get out of the Championship in the next five years, and very few think they've a chance of any cup success.

"To add to their woes, more than a third expect financial problems at the club - even the threat of bankruptcy - and a whopping 69 per cent reckon the manager's office needs a revolving door, with George Burley making way for at least three more gaffers by 2012.

"Will the last one at St Mary's please turn out the lights".

For more information on the survey, log onot http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/championship.html