Nigel Pearson will today meet Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde for the first time as he discusses his future as Saints boss.

Pearson is out of contract this summer and speculation has been raging over whether he will still be in charge when the new campaign kicks off in August.

Lowe and Wilde returned to Saints last week, replacing the likes of Leon Crouch who brought Pearson to the club and who publicly stated he believed he should be retained.

However, Lowe, chairman of the PLC board, and Wilde, chairman of the football board, are now in charge again at St Mary's.

It is clear that no decision appears to have been made by either party as to exactly what direction they will head in.

There are, though, lots of hurdles to overcome - and talks are expected to continue beyond today.

Pearson will have to enter into negotiations over any potential contract with money still at a premium at St Mary's.

If his own salary can be agreed, then there is still the matter of whether he is happy with the direction in which Lowe and Wilde want to push things at St Mary's.

It is also unknown whether Lowe and Wilde consider Pearson to be the right man to deliver the results they want.

Belts look likely to be tightened at St Mary's and, whilst some extra cash is to be put into the academy where it will make a big impact, it is the kind of money that will hardly touch the sides of the first team budget.

Nine players are out of contract this summer - Claus Lundekvam, Chris Makin, Alexander Ostlund, Inigo Idiakez, Darren Powell, Mario Licka, Nathan Dyer, Jermaine Wright and Simon Gillett - and few are expected to be retained.

Full story: See today's Daily Echo.