Just over 20 years ago when I had made my ill-fated move to Sunderland - which prompted my friend Jimmy Tarbuck to say what had Lawrie and the Titanic got in common - neither one should have left Southampton'- I was duly elected onto a committee.

It was representing the three lower divisions in meetings with the then First Division clubs who were talking about pulling away long before Sky TV came along with the big money.

Out of all the discussions came the suggestion for play-offs to be introduced.

As I remember, it was actually the chairman of little Brentford who came up with the idea.

He had businesses in America and had seen the system work successfully over there.

Many of the traditionalists fought against it.

I was open-minded but last Sunday I was delighted that I put my hand up all those years ago.

Read Lawrie McMenemy's column in today's 24-page Saints v Derby pull-out.