LEON Crouch is calling on the thousands of stayaway Saints fans to return – and help ensure supporters aren’t blamed for any more player sales next month.

Finance director Dave Jones last week issued the bleak warning that more players would almost certainly have to be sold to avoid the bank putting extra pressure on the club in these gloomy economic times.

Crowds have slumped below the club’s breakeven figure at times this season, a factor which is not helping the club’s finances in their time of need.

Crouch wants fans to return in their numbers to give the club a boost in terms of gate money, which in turn might negate the need to offload the likes of Adam Lallana and Andrew Surman in the January transfer window.

“I would like to stress that I will continue to sponsor and support SFC,” he said.

“To me the club is bigger than any individual and I would ask all fans to try and put behind them their differences with the existing management and get behind the team.

“They need your support, they deserve your support, they are playing some fantastic football and it will only get better.

“We must not allow Lowe and Wilde to sell our young players in January.

“We need to fill the stadium, demonstrate our support and ensure that this great club survives. An average of 22,000 is possible.

“Don’t allow the board to use the excuse that our young players have to be sold because we are staying away from the terraces.

“I know this is a very difficult time for supporters, both financially and with confidence in the club, but we must all unite and save this great club.

“The fans are the key to this club’s future.”