SAINTS season ticket holder Martin Van Tuyl believes he has been “held in contempt” following Nigel Adkins’ shock sacking.

Here is the letter Van Tuyl has emailed to the Daily Echo.

I have often been critical of Nigel Adkins. I could not understand for the life of me why he never got a decent centre half in during the summer. I was at both Villa and Chelsea and was quite bemused by Adkins' line up at Stamford Bridge. But his gamble paid off and we got four points from two very difficult away games.

If Cortese has sacked Adkins in November, I would not have been too critical.

But to sack him now at this stage of the season in the middle of the transfer window is utterly criminal. We are playing Everton, which was always going to be difficult but not impossible. A win on Monday would go a long way towards our survival. To give the job to Pochettino (WHO?) at this stage of the season is beyond a gamble. Pochettino speaks no English and I would doubt whether he knows a lot about our players or the league we are trying to stay in.

Added to all this mayhem, this act of vandalism will have given the teams around us a huge boost. Saints seemed to have turned the corner. I still thought it was going to be a nervous end to the season but...we had every chance of survival. Adkins deserved the chance to see the job throught until May.

The Everton game is now going to be interesting for all the wrong reasons. How are the crowd going to react to Pochettino? Are we now going to end up with the Chelsea scenario with Rafa? How are the players going to react? Are we still going to strengthen the squad?

Cortese seems to think the club needs to kick on to a higher level. After back to back promotions, the main objective was always to stay in the league.

Should we go down, is Pochettino equipped to get us back up?

As a season ticket holder, I have been held in contempt.

Yes, I was critical of Adkins but he earned the right to lead Saints until the end of the season.

One thing is beyond doubt, Pochettino had better hit the ground running. I don't think there will be much of a honeymoon period. Our league position will not allow it.

Martin van Tuyl, Kingsland season ticket holder

Read more fans' views in Monday's Daily Echo