Saints Trust chairman insists any protests are peaceful

Following the 2-1 defeat to Doncaster, and the scenes that followed, there has been talk of demonstrations at the next home game, against Swansea, on Saturday, January 31.

Saints Trust vice chairman Steve Grant doesn’t believe protesting will make a difference.

However, he has encouraged those who want to do it to keep it peaceful and not while play is in progress.

“If you look back to the last time all this kicked off, in 2006, when there were protests all over the place, they didn’t actually seem to have any effect whatsoever on any change being made,” he said.

“The only thing that had an effect was somebody (Michael Wilde) buying shares and using that route to make a change.

“I can’t see that being any different this time.

“What’s happening is not the players’ fault.

“I would personally prefer that any protests are reserved for before and after games, or at half-time if necessary.

“It was very much a spur of the moment thing against Doncaster and if people are going to do that then that’s what they’re going to do – nobody’s going to be able to stop them.

“The most disappointing thing about the whole situation on Saturday was Saints fans fighting fellow supporters, which takes it to a new level.

“As long as people keep it peaceful and within the bounds of the law, then fine.

“But once it steps over that line of being vicious and potentially illegal then anybody protesting immediately loses any sort of moral high ground.”

Chairman of the Southampton Independent Supporters’ Association Mike O’Callaghan, left, said he was in favour of something being done.

However, he said people should resist showing their feelings when it could be detrimental to the players.

“Fans have got every right to protest, because we pay our money and it’s their right to vent their frustrations,” he said.

“But I definitely feel it has to be peaceful.