SAINTS manager Mauricio Pochettino has this morning said he will leave the club if Nicola Cortese's reign comes to an end.

The Saints manager has spoken out on behalf of his boss, in an attempt to put pressure on the club's owners through the media.

The Swiss-Italian banker's future is in doubt, as the Liebherrs consider their options due to a break clause in his contract at the club.

Now the manager has made it clear his loyalty lies with the chairman rather than the club as a whole.

Speaking at a press conference at Staplewood this morning, Pochettino said: "I would not continue if Nicola Cortese was not here. It would not make any sense if I was at this club and he wasn’t."

Asked if he would be staying if Cortese left, the Argentinian said: ''Of course not, because the person that has put his faith in me in this club and as a manager is Nicola Cortese.

''Nicola Cortese has basically been the reality at Southampton for the past four years.

''Of course, the people that are in the club, that are part of the club, that are behind the scenes in the club were a little bit worried about what has been said.

''Me on a personal sense, I would not understand a Southampton without Nicola being here.''

Pochettino is the third manager appointed by Cortese in less than four years, following Nigel Adkins and Alan Pardew.

He has been at St. Mary's four months, having been given the job in January, the day his predecessor was suddenly sacked by Cortese.

''When I first arrived here, nobody knew who Mauricio Pochettino was,'' the Saints boss added.

''Nicola put his faith in me and knew me from way, way back.

''When I got to know his project, we were basically on the same wavelength as to what we wanted for Southampton in the future.

''Basically, my future in Southampton has to be with Nicola.''

Cortese’s initial contract at Southampton is due to reach a natural break this summer, which allows him to walk away penalty free or for the Liebherr estate to relieve him of his duties with comparatively minimal compensation.

Therefore there is a chance they may choose to go in a different direction and replace him within the next few weeks.

There are also suggestions from Cortese's camp that the chairman himself may choose to walk before such a decision is made, as he is 'disillusioned' with a failure to agree new plans for the club.