SAINTS chairman Nicola Cortese has hit out at a number of the club’s most famous legends after they offered their support to Alan Pardew.

In recent weeks, Lawrie McMenemy, Francis Benali, Matt Le Tissier and Kevin Keegan have all praised the work done by the Saints boss this season.

They did so in the face of increasing national media speculation that Pardew was facing the sack, after failing to guide the team to the League One play-offs.

However, Cortese has hit out at them for supposedly undermining the club and took a swipe at Le Tissier for his own role in trying to save the club from administration last year, after he fronted the failed Pinnacle bid to buy Saints.

“Various figures with past associations to the club have been quick to voice their opinions, among them a long-time former manager, and former players, one of whom was associated with a so-called consortium which delayed for an important few weeks last summer our plans to stabilise the club,” he said.

“These commentators are each entitled to their opinions of course.

“However, I must tell them that running a major football club such as Southampton is a rather different matter from writing about doing so.

“One of my early actions was to eradicate the politics that had cast a shadow over Southampton for so long.

“However, it seems that those same people are trying to continue behind the scenes.

“I can assure the supporters of Southampton Football Club that I will not be influenced or driven by people who seek to harm the club in the pursuit of personal agendas – whoever they are.”