AN old acquaintance of mine, who used to be a number one sportswriter in Fleet Street, this week forwarded me an article headed ‘Saints’ success is down to my vision’.

I could not believe that the article, published in The Sun, was an interview with ex-chairman Rupert Lowe.

If supporters have not already seen this it’s worth looking at.

I didn’t realise that he had done so much, not only changing the financial position of the club but more or less building St Mary’s himself.

And I never realised he had started what he called the ‘famed academy’. I thought that was me!

He mentioned bringing in players like Gareth Bale but I seem to remember Gareth came through the Bristol branch of what we called the youth policy I set up.

We had centres in Gateshead, Bristol and London.

Lowe may not have heard of Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier and the Wallace brothers, but I think I can understand him being a little in need of publicity at present.

What some supporters may not realise is that after having to leave football he was elected a member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands, where few had probably heard of him.

With Brexit underway he may well now have his eye on coming back into the game.

One point he made was that after his first term as chairman he left the club in a wonderful state.

Two years later he returned to find finances in the red, blaming two gentlemen, one of whom is Leon Crouch.

I personally think this was a huge insult to a man who literally saved the club with money from his own pocket.

As I’ve said before, Leon deserved a statue or something on the wall outside the ground.

Thinking about it, another idea would be to immortalise Mr Lowe with a statue for all he has done, so supporters can use it as target practice.

IT was a treat to watch two exciting FA Cup ties this week, although Spurs win was of course hurtful.

I have to admit that these days I’m not one for watching two hours of football on TV. I tend to click on to see the scores and possibly watch a few minutes and then get back to whatever else I was doing.

But for two nights running this week I was glued to the screen.

Both games finished 3-2, with the southern clubs, Oxford and of course Saints, on the wrong end of the results.

Anyone watching Oxford play Newcastle would think it was a Premier League match, so well did Oxford play.

They were unlucky with the last-minute goal but the fact they made Newcastle come all the way down for a replay will give them all a big lift in a season that may yet end with promotion.

The following night, Mr Mourinho did admit the best team lost. He would say that because he was obviously delighted to have got to the fifth round.

But I think most people would agree Saints were quicker, stronger, passed the ball better and played more as a team.

Unfortunately, apart from the own goal, their finishing - such as Ings’ shot against the bar - didn’t come off for them on the night.

But if they can keep that effort going Saints will continue to climb the table between now and the end of the season.