Saints were a huge part of Chris Newman’s life from first watching them in 1960 all the way through to last May. His love affair with the club was so strong he even wrote a book about Saints a few years ago. Now, though, he is one of the missing thousands – one of the stayaway fans for whom the love affair has ended. And don’t tell him he shouldn’t have turned his back on the club. In his own words, this is one fan’s story...

"Last weekend I returned to the fold for the Saints v Wolves clash. I’ll say straight away it was a one off.

I wasn’t at all impressed, to say the least, with the return to SFC by the current Lowe & Wilde regime.

Especially after the now departed Nigel Pearson’s magnificent effort, in such a short space of time, keeping a somewhat uninspired Saints squad in the Championship.

This after the club had already fallen out of the Premiership, several managers and three boards ago.

I decided that was enough for me. Recent history has not given Saints fans the necessary entertainment that the team mostly provided me with since boyhood.

The value for money has not been there either.

Why should I continue to spend money I don’t really have as I make my way in semi retirement on something I was no longer enjoying?

RESENTFUL

I also resent those blinkered zealot-like Saints followers both old and new, who try to tell us the so called "ranting minority" stop-aways (about 14,000 of us actually) how we should spend our hard-earned cash.

I wouldn’t dream of telling them how to spend their’s. Other than maybe to recommend membership of the "Flat Earth Society".

For in my own humble view, their logic in pontificating about continuing to support a once great – but now unrecognisable institution – is in the same denial league. Or, at best, misguided loyalty.

Sometimes, though, fate takes an unexpected hand.

By the summer, I was back at St Mary’s on a training course tied in with my present job. So technically my own particular stadium exile didn’t last too long.

Ah, but that wasn’t actually attending a match, was it? Not even the lure of Glasgow Celtic, for Claus Lundekvam’s testimonial, could tempt me.

Then to cap it all, I go and win two tickets for the Wolves clash.

Yes indeed, a much bigger crowd was at St Mary’s than of late, but that was boosted by a Wolves following that has always throughout my 48 years following professional football been of the more fanatical variety.

Wolves’ pedigree is, in fact, massive. A club laden with various honours and the first to pioneer the facing of top European clubsin a series of matches during the 1950s that became the catalyst for what these days is known as the Champions League.

Early in this game, today’s Wolves side threatened to copy those great old timers and run riot through a promising but quite obviously naive bunch of Saints youngsters.

To Saints’ credit they battled hard and kept trying to play decent football throughout, looking neat in their approach work.

There is though, no cutting edge. The loan – and surely certain eventual sale of Stern John – will not help whatsoever.

The defence seems only ever one mistake short of another mess up and if it was not for keeper Kelvin Davis (who is now justifying what we all thought was George Burley’s misplaced faith) Saints would be rock bottom.

I feel sorry for Jan Poortvliet, it’s not really his fault. He just doesn’t have the material at this moment in time.

Meanwhile I’ll continue going to the Silverlake where those Spitfires, Eastleigh, have served up some cracking home entertainment this season.

You couldn’t wish to see a more thrilling game than the recent storm-lashed victory over Hampton and Richmond or the 3-3 thriller with Hayes and Yeading.

Neither have I forgotten the visit of the truly loyal support of a club straight out of football folklore, Newport County.

Once a football league side themselves, yet still well followed, especially away. Even this far south, for an evening game.

FANTASTIC PLAYERS

Non league is so much more enjoyable. Much like the pro game used to be.

Sorry Saints, you were once a fine club, who boasted some fantastic players.

It would be hard to better the CV ‘playing squad wise’ down through the years for a club of your size. Yes, it was nice knowing you. But these days I know you not.

For despite the crowd trying to lift the young side on occasions, I could have been at any similar stadium in the country, other than on my old stomping ground.

For the fabled ‘Spirit of Southampton’ has disappeared somewhere in the ether. That, in my estimation, has nothing whatsoever to do with missing fans.

For those that accuse us should look to what drove us away in the first place."