THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH...

Wow!! What a day. The picture shows just a few of the 31,970 fans at St. Mary`s yesterday, when Saints hauled themselves out of the relegation zone to secure their place in the Championship for next season. A close run thing against a Sheffield United team that still harboured hopes of reaching the play-offs, so it made for a proper football match with each team having something important to play for.

There are newspaper reports galore to provide more details of the game itself(eg.http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/04/championship.southampton ,) which Saints won 3-2 after coming from behind thanks to two goals from Stern John (yes, he of the grumpy disposition) and Marek Saganowski, who scored his first goal since October with a brave diving header to bring the scores level after the Blades went ahead.

The victory sparked wild scenes of celebration amongst the Saints faithful, the inevitable pitch invasion and the players reappearing from the changing rooms for a `lap of appreciation.` It was at this point that the motives might have become clouded. The PA announcer declared that the players wanted to show their appreciation to the supporters for all the `tremendous support` they had given over the season. Just as well, for any notion of a `lap of honour` would seem misplaced with the team having so narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier of English football.

So, another season comes to an end and I now await developments on two fronts which will determine whether I renew my season ticket. The first is whether duck-shooting buffoon Rupert Lowe makes a return as Chairman of the club and the second is the fate of two youthful players caught on camera allegedly stealing cash and other items from the staff room of a Southsea nightclub. Their case comes up before the Portsmouth beak next month.

I will not condone either the reappearance of the already failed Rupert or the continued employment of the two malcontents should they be found guilty. My continued loyalty will depend on such principles being upheld. Nose, spite and face come to mind?