Alan Pardew has insisted he wants to see out the remaining two years of his contract as Saints manager amidst speculation he could be sacked.

Rumours of Pardew’s potential departure swept St Mary’s during the final home game of the season against Southend at the weekend.

Following a radio report that quoted a source close to Markus Liebherr as saying the billionaire owner was not at the match due to being unhappy at the progress made this season.

The report went on to say that a meeting would take place at some stage this week, rumoured to be Wednesday, when the situation would be addressed.

That comes on the back of long running speculation over whether chairman Nicola Cortese believes Pardew has done a good job at Saints and whether he will change the manager in the summer.

After the game Pardew tried to remain diplomatic and insisted he wants to stay at Saints but couldn’t confirm he would be at the club next season.

He said: “It’s not a question for me – I’m an employee.

“My job is contracted to this club, I’ve enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to fulfilling my contract.”

When asked about the potential meeting he confessed: “I think at this point I don’t feel I want to answer that.

“There is some talking we need to do about the future of the club.”

Pardew is a popular figure with the Saints fans who feel he has done well this season and see a bright future under his leadership.

However, the suggestion behind the scenes is that the club’s hierarchy are unhappy that Saints failed to finish in the top six, even allowing for the ten point deduction, after spending more than £3m on transfers.

Perhaps tellingly, while Pardew said he personally wanted to stay at Saints, he added that he ‘hoped’ to be given the opportunity to continue next season.

“I want to stay at Southampton,” he insisted.

“It’s been a club that have grown and the fans have taken to me and the team I have has been excellent.

“I just hope we get the opportunity to build again."