I THINK I have mentioned on many occasions an old manager called Neil Warnock. He has been around for decades and managed a number of clubs.

Warnock is one of the goodies in the game and it was interesting to see him stay on at Huddersfield last season, potentially doing his last bit.

It has been said the 74 year old has been forced out, though, and the club have not waited for him to retire. He may be hanging his boots up now.

Warnock has said he would consider a bumper offer and you never know what will happen, but full marks to him on an incredible career.

I’m sure he will still be going to lots of games and could scout rather than be a manager.

Talking about managers, our own boss – Russell Martin – is bound to be feeling the heat at the moment with those three consecutive losses.

Two of those were evening games at St Mary’s and those are fixtures that are not easy to win but are important to please supporters.

Not that it is his fault, and the supporters will always turn up because they are loyal, but inevitably it can turn them against the manager more than usual.

At the moment, they will undoubtedly be looking at the next few fixtures to find out what they can about the opposition to try and gain any edge.

Russell has had a couple of injuries to contend with that have unsettled his starting XI.

Obviously, I don’t know what goes on these days behind the scenes at Saints, but in my day we would have regular chats between the manager and chairman.

You would let them know about injuries and any disruption etcetera, trying to give reasons for any given display. He would contact the board and they would usually wish you the best of luck.

You had to get the very best out of the group of players you had and that is all down to the manager’s decisions.

You need the medical staff to keep on top of knocks and injuries and you have to hope there are no silly sending offs or suspensions!

Keeping everyone in a positive manner was one of the most important aspects of the job. I’m always supporting the club, and the first one who gets the stick on a bad run is the manager.

Good luck to Russell Martin. If the home crowd see that everyone is giving 100 per cent on a matchday then they will get behind them, and hopefully change this run.

It was a shame to see Saints lose another game at home to Ipswich. Obviously, the home crowd were not happy and they let it be known on the night.

Ipswich would have probably been happy with a draw but were delighted with the win. They had travelled 170 miles each way to the match and you have to wonder who arranged the fixtures?

They would have had to leave work early to get there and wouldn’t get home until the early hours of the next day.

I’m sure, on this occasion, it wouldn’t have worried them too much given that they’d won three points. Saints have that same issue when they travel to Stoke and Preston in quick succession.

It is just something you have to take, you’ll look at the fixtures and think ‘Dear me’, but you wouldn’t really be complaining.

I just think, if a bit of common sense came into it, it could be avoided. Clubs like Sunderland will have the same issue being all the way up the other end of the country!

Saints fans will be making the second-longest journey of the season today when they head to Middlesbrough so good luck, safe travels and full marks to anyone heading up.

If you haven’t been there before, there is the usual northeast passion but they will not be happy with their club’s position!

On the one hand, it’s good for any opposition that they are bottom.

On the other, their entire club will be urged to get up and get started and they will want this to be the first win in a recovery journey.