Saints fans are being tested to the limit at the moment by the daily news of one player or another leaving, but now is the time for Saints season ticket holders to show that their support for the club is still strong.

Friday 30th May is the final day for existing season ticket holders to renew their tickets, it is usually a busy day with many waiting to the last minute before handing over their cash, this year its more stressful than usual and on social media sites many so called supporters seem almost proud to announce that they won't be renewing for next season because of press speculation.

That I believe is a very blinkered view and a statement I believe no true supporter would make, it is very easy to support a club in good times and we have had many of those in the past five years as we have stormed up the leagues, but it is not so easy to do when times are a little more trying and it is in these times that true supporters get behind their club and show solidarity.

Social media sites are full of supporters screaming that Katharina Liebherr and her board should show their commitment to the club, that they should do that not only by repelling offers for at last most of our players, but in investing more of the Liebherr money into the club.

I would say that if charity begins at home ! if we want Katharina to put her money into the club then we first have to show we are prepared to do the same with our own and that means firstly having a big renewal of season tickets.

So far Katharina Liebherr has shown nothing but good intent towards this club, she has been the owner for the past four years and in that time put her hand in her pocket as our ex Chairman not only overspent but failed to actually bring in any revenue to compensate on that, in this respect nothing has changed apart from the fact that she is now a lot more hands on, Cortese had to go because he wasnt doing the job he was being paid for, that job was a lot more than just results on the pitch and he was not delivering, if anyone thinks that if he had still been here then we would have kept the squad and manager completely intact then they are in cloud cuckoo land, this is modern day football, players and managers do not spend too long at clubs because if they do well they can always get a better deal elsewhere.

Katharina Liebherr is now being asked to steer the ship through stormy waters, if we want her to keep doing so and not walk away and leave us to flounder then we hve to show we have a passion for this club, that our support is not about our perceived league status but about Southampton Football Club itself.

The first to be able to show that are the season ticket holders and they now need to show Katharina that not only is the club worth her time and money, but we supporters are as well, we took her father to our hearts, we want to take her to ours as well.

Yes times are looking dark at the moment, I have never ever seen a football club with so many of its players wanted by other clubs at the same time, it is unprecendented, we are victims of our own success, but the reality is that not all of them will go, we are still a Premier League club, we still have a crop of promising youngsters coming through and whoever takes over from Pochettino will have a big transfer kitty to replace those who are gone.

We will be in a lot stronger position than most of the other clubs in the division, therefore there is no reason why next season should not be as exciting and enjoyable as the last one.

Our targets might have changed, but at least they will now be achievable ones and I for one feel that we are a club that can not only finish in the top 10 again but this time add a Cup final appearance to it.

These are stormy seas, but they are not ones we havent sailed before, in times like this we need to stay strong, keep backing the club and be ready to enjoy the calmer waters.

Whatever happens in the next month or so we are still a Premier League club next season, we are still in a stronger position to move forward than most and we have an owner who has a clear vision not one fueled by throwing millions at the club for a short period till she becomes bored and leaves us in the lurch

Its time for Saints fans to see the long term picture, its time for us to realise what the word "supporter" means and what that entails, the fact is now we will once again find out who the true supporters are and who those are that want to be along for the good times but arent prepared to stick around for the bad, anyone can buy a replica shirt, but supporting a football club is more than that.

Photo: Action Images

Hugh_Jarce added 10:01 - May 30 Spot on and why would KL want to throw silly money at trying to make Champions League when a slower burn with youth development and the occasional good buy would continue to work . We will need to plug the gaps though if the expected exodus actually happens
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winchesterbob added 10:06 - May 30 Well said Nick. Real supports, support through thick and thin, and irrespective of the comings and goings, (real or imagined), Southampton FC till I die.
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SanMarco added 13:31 - May 30 The angry brigade who need to be angry at someone have chosen KL and the Board - who in my view have done little wrong. Yes there is going to be an exodus which is a shame because we were playing nice football and had several long-term players who had come through the divisions with us. Anyone that goes off in a huff because a manager and a few players WANT to leave is not much of a supporter. And have no doubt: the same thing would have happened under NC. Indeed RL would have been at West Ham now...

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densham41 added 16:35 - May 30 Interesting to see that only 3 readers of this web site commented on this article! I wounded how many who rad this are season tickets holder? Great article Nick
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no7saint added 18:29 - May 30 I renewed a couple of weeks back, deciding not to let the speculation get to me. It is a bit traumatic right now but a million times better than when we were in admin. The Liebherr family saved us from oblivion and after 5 years of delivering everything we could have asked for they deserve our trust now we're at a crossroads. Despite his marketing speak Ralph K was clear when he said the intention is still to improve the team. While selling our best players is not the best way to do this no-one has yet gone and we do not know what players will be brought in. Until we do...keep the faith!

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newwessexsaint added 18:33 - May 30 My thoughts exactly, renewed my season ticket yesterday. Is this is a crisis, what was administration, Branfoot and Moran/Wright banged up for alleged rape?
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Chesham_Saint added 23:51 - May 30 I've renewed (2 season tickets) but I have to say the way footballers act like prostitutes is leaving me increasingly disillusioned with the game....
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