SOUTHAMPTON’S star TV presenter Fiona Phillips is calling on all Saints fans to stick with their club in their darkest hour.

The former GMTV presenter is the latest celebrity to back the Daily Echo’s Save Our Saints campaign and says it is important to keep the club alive with the spirit of the city that was shown after they won the FA Cup in 1976.

“It is tragic what is happening down at the club at the moment,” she told the Daily Echo.

“I followed Southampton around the country when I was younger and was there to see them win the 1976 FA Cup final.

“I remember being one of 200,000 people who came out into the city when they brought that home which shows just how important they are for Southampton.”

“When I was growing up I would spend all my money that I earned working in my local newsagent on going to The Dell.

For me at the time, Southampton wasn’t so much of a city as it was a football club – which is how a lot of people see it.

Fiona, 47, who left the GMTV sofa in January to spend more time with her two young sons, Nathanial and Mackenzie and husband GMTV editor Martin Frizell, says she will be trying to make it back to her home city for the remaining two home matches.

“I would appeal for everyone to stick with the club and show their support for them by going to St Mary’s. Living in London my children are Chelsea fans but we are going to try and get down to the games and show our support.”

Fiona, who last year was given an honorary degree from Southampton Solent University, is now the favourite to take over from Fern Britton as host of daytime TV show This Morning.

A spokeswoman for the presenter said the new role was just the subject of rumours and could not confirm or deny she had been offered the job.