EPISODE TWO -
COMPOUNDING THE FELONY.....

Following on from the disgrace at Bristol Rovers a couple of weeks ago, now comes another episode to deepen the despair at current affairs concerning my football club.

Despite improvements in recent performances under the regime of our new manager, Nigel Pearson, it is deeply sad to report that the reputation of Southampton FC has been tarnished by revelations in the tabloid Sunday press concerning the out of hours antics of two of our players.

If the allegations are true, it seems that Bradley Wright- Phillips and Nathan Dyer have been caught on CCTV cameras in the staff room of a Southsea night club at some ungodly hour, apparently involved in the theft of cash, mobile phones and other items belonging to the girls who work there.

Now these two are receiving (I nearly said `earning`) thousand of pounds a week as professional footballers, so they don`t need the money. The girls, however, are earning just above the minimum wage - just under £6 an hour, so they certainly do need the money.

The club has already taken `strong disciplinary action` against them for breaking club rules concerning social hours and are awaiting the outcome of police investigations concerning the alleged thefts before considering any further action. A sensible position to take.

I find the whole business deeply offensive - to the `victims`, of course, but also to the good name of the club and, by association, those like me who are lifelong supporters. It`s difficult to pass judgment in advance of the police enquiries being concluded, but the CCTV pictures seem to be damningly conclusive. If, therefore, these two are found guilty of being involved in the offences which have clearly been committed, then they have no place at Southampton FC. and whatever their contractual situations vis-a-vis the club may be or their `book value` as assets of the plc, they should be shown the door.

And if that results in relegation, then so be it, for I would rather continue to support an honourable club in the lower reaches of the game than one which puts greater store on money and status than on reputation.