NICOLA Cortese should stick with Nigel Adkins as manager – even if Saints lose tomorrow’s crunch contest at fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers.

That is the view of lifelong fan and chairman of the Southampton Independent Supporters Association Mike O’Callaghan ahead of what he deems “a real six pointer.”

O’Callaghan, who will be at Loftus Road tomorrow, said last night: “Nothing Cortese does would surprise me, but I would definitely keep him charge even if we lose at QPR.

“Adkins should be given at least until Christmas.

“If Cortese does decide to sack him then, at least he can get a new manager in ahead of the January transfer window.

“But we spent almost £30m in the summer, so I don’t know how much money would be available to any new manager.

“I’ve heard the rumours about Gianluca Vialli and Di Canio, but Nigel Adkins has a proven record of getting teams promoted even after they were relgated. His CV is far better than Di Canio’s.”

O’Callaghan added: “There’s no reason why we can’t win this weekend.

“We need to go there and take the game to QPR because they’re at home and there’s more pressure on them than us.

“Obviously there is pressure on us, though, because we’re in the bottom three and the longer you stay there the more the pressure grows.

“We have been in this situation before when we were at The Dell and always survived, a bit like Wigan have done recently.

“But it’s a lot more challenging now because there’s a lot more money involved.”