A THOUSAND CUTS...

Saints` new `Head Coach,` Mark Wotte, cut a gloomy figure as he watched yet another defeat from the touchline at Bristol City`s Ashton Gate ground on Saturday. A year ago, we had the passion of Nigel Pearson to guide us to safety on the last day of the season. Pearson was `let go` by Saints` buffoon of a Chairman, Rupert Lowe, and Pearson`s new club -Leicester City - are now sure of promotion from the third tier back to the Championship. After Saturday`s defeat, Saints are now sure of relegation back to the third tier, which they last inhabited 49 years ago.

It`s been coming, of course, but the last vestige of hope has now disappeared and we now want it over and done with. Maybe the 10-points deduction for going into administration would be welcome as absolute confirmation of our demise and looking at the club`s share price and general finances, administration may not be long in coming as the bank finally looses patience.

Off the field, the disasters continue unabashed and there seems little sign of Lowe and his chums leaving voluntarily, despite the now constant howls for them to do so. What`s more, there is no sign of an investor willing or foolish enough to recue the club from its £25million debt and breathe new life into the team, the fans and the city.

On the field, the disasters continue unabashed too - our leaky defence, static midfield and powder-puff `attack` are a poor shadow of the team that just a few years ago were riding high in the Premiership.

I think our plight is summed up by the appointment of Wotte, who was number two to the recently departed Jan Poortvliet. Nice man as he was , Poortvliet didn`t hack it in the hurly burly of the Championship and it`s hard to see that his former assistant - the newly promoted Wotte - will fare any better. So let`s get it over with. Let`s accept defeat, even embrace it, for que sera has certainly sera`d and, if you listen carefully, you might just hear the fat lady preparing to charm us with her aria of sadness and regret.