IF EVER there was a case for Saints deciding to sell Theo Walcott, we have seen it in the last few months.

Before the hate mail comes flying my way, let me explain.

In Walcott, Saints have an incredible talent. He has searing pace, that, dare I say, Thierry Henry ability to drift in from the flanks and an eye for goal.

At the moment, he is a good player, but he is no better than good.

What he does have is the potential to be great.

If Arsenal part with £10m - £5m up front and £5m in installments - it will not be because they are buying a player to come straight into their team and improve it.

They will be buying a player they believe they can nurture into becoming a superstar.

Now, people down this way will naturally want to see that happen at Saints. And understandably so.

However, there cannot be one Saints fan who believes if Walcott does fulfil his potential, he would be at St Mary's for long anyway.

Despite the protestations, Saints have been a selling club for a long time and will continue to be unless they suddenly stumble across a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Walcott right now is probably Saints' best goalscoring hope - even though he is only 16.

In many ways, he is carrying the hopes and expectations of thousands on his shoulders every time he goes onto the pitch, because he is the one who needs to do something special to make that telling difference.

Sadly, that says a lot about how far Saints have slipped.

Even a few players that have done well in the Premiership are struggling now and the club being just six points off the Championship relegation zone after so much of the season tells its own story.

George Burley has identified what he needs to do - build a new squad.

He knows he doesn't just need a player here or there to plug a gap.

He needs a revolution.

He has the youngsters to bring through but he also needs more experienced players.

Their purchases have to be financed in some way and it seems clear that, as far as the club are concerned, there is no other way.

Sadly, Antti Niemi, Theo Walcott and Nigel Quashie were the only real sellable assets that would bring in decent bucks at the start of the month.

One has already gone, one looks set to go and the other yet could follow.

With the money raised from the Walcott sale, Burley could start some major rebuilding work.

With his excellent track record in the transfer market, he could quite easily bring in seven or eight first choice first team players with that money alone.

Add in the Niemi cash - plus some money from those sold last summer - and it gets near a whole team, the youngsters completing the squad.

It might not be a popular opinion but if - and this is a big if - the money from Walcott is going to be totally reinvested, maybe it's for the best.

This is where Saints are at the moment.

Reality check time.

The choice is stark. One good player who might turn out to be great, or a whole team that could achieve something?

The answer is inevitable.

So, as much as Saints say they don't want to lose Walcott, bear this is mind if, as expected, he leaves this month.

The vocal Saints support at Loftus Road were vociferous in the support of their team, particularly after hearing Walcott's name was in the starting line-up.

However, after a bright opening the game turned out to be a tale of two penalties.

QPR converted theirs in the first half, Richard Langley sending Paul Smith the wrong way after Danny Higginbotham had fouled Gareth Ainsworth.

Saints missed theirs in the second half, Quashie smashing against the post after he had been fouled by Steve Lomas following a surging run from Walcott.

Both sides had threatened in the first half, Smith making a few stops and Darren Powell's header being cleared off the line.

Sadly for Saints, the penalty aside, they didn't ever look close to breaking down a resolute QPR in the second half and failed to create another chance.

All it did was serve to underline how badly Burley needs to start rebuilding - even if that means one very painful departure.