Long-serving physio Jim Joyce has been sacked by Saints.

The Scot, who has been at the club since joining from Port Vale in December 1994, is understood to be a victim of director of football Clive Woodward's modernisation programme.

Joyce was summonsed to the club's Staplewood training ground to be told that after almost 12 years his services would no longer be required.

Joyce has been a popular figure amongst not the only players but also the fans.

And as well as his footballing duties, he has also been a regular figure on the local road running scene as a member of Team Southampton athletics club.

Joyce's departure underlines the fact that chairman Rupert Lowe remains happy to make decisions about senior members of staff despite the EGM being just 24 days away.

It is understood that Joyce's position will not be directly filled.

Instead, Saints will now appoint someone with a different title such as head of sports medicine'.

Joyce's departure currently leaves Saints without a first team physio or doctor Chris Lawrence also retired at the end of last season after over three decades at the club.

The head of sports medicine' appointment will come on the back of Paul Balsom, right, who is currently working for the Swedish FA with their World Cup squad, being appointed head of sports science on a consultancy basis as exclusively revealed by the Daily Echo last month.

Joyce is the latest of many members of the Saints backroom team to leave the club since relegation.

In terms of coaching staff, Harry Redknapp, Jim Smith, Kevin Bond, Dennis Rofe, Christiano Damiano, Steve Wigley and David Coles have all moved on.

In addition, Dave Bassett and Simon Clifford have come and gone.

Simon Wilson, the club's Pro Zone expert first appointed by Gordon Strachan, has recently also left he has gone to Manchester City to link up again with former Saints boss Steve Wigley.

It is believed Saints fitness coach Andy Spink, right, could also soon depart St Mary's.

In terms of support staff to the first team squad, the only people still at the club who were there prior to relegation are reserve team boss Stewart Henderson and kitman Malcolm Woggy' Taylor.

There have been rumours that Woodward would look to bring in British Lions tour doctor James Robson, who he worked with in New Zealand last summer. However, Saints have denied this.

Meanwhile, the decision to remove Joyce was met by surprise from the camp of Michael Wilde, who could be in control of the club in just over three weeks if they are successful at an EGM.

They believe the timing is "inappropriate" given the circumstances Saints are in.

A spokesman for the Wilde camp said: "It is completely inappropriate to be making decisions about senior members of the staff in the period leading up to the EGM."