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Let's be realistic, the Setanta thing has had a major impact. I expect to see nothing until pre-season is almost over and so-called trialists realise they don't have a club and nobody has any money anymore (except Vics) to offer them large wages.
I think it was Ecky who said that the TV money loss is something like £80k over a 40 week season = £2000 per week.

Assuming the above figures are a reasonable best guestimate, then this is effectively how much our squad needs to shrink by unless a major source of income is found before August i.e at a generous part time wage of £400 per week it equates to a loss of 5 players from what we had last season !

We must just hope that all clubs are in the same boat......or at least all our main rivals are

Danny Heffernan (ex-Alty reserves, sometime first team squad member / future squad member) has won the Vodcat League Player of the Season for his performances with Abbey Hey (Neil Browns team) last season - well done to him

As far as I can see, there are no positives whatsoever ! We potentially stand to lose £80k and some think there could be a 'silver lining'

So called bigger clubs will either borrow more money or their benefactors will put their hand a little deeper into their pockets.  There are other clubs who we know have no regard for debt either, it just means they will lose more money next season than they hoped for.

Believe me, this will impact the smaller clubs more than the bigger clubs, even though they featured on the telly much more. The only levelling of playing fields will be at rival clubs such as Barrow and Tamworth etc

It's not the best of comparisons, but Manchester United have changed assistants several times over recent years e.g. Archie Knox, Brian Kidd, Steve McClaren, Walter Smith, Carlos Querez, Mike Phelan.

On each occasion there was dissappointment that a good guy was leaving and things might go downhill. On each occasion the assistant was replaced with yet another good guy.
We have to hope that the same thing happens - why wouldn't it ?

If GB is leaving, and I say if, then we wish him well and hope to see him around. At a fans forum he once said that he thought the chances of getting back into league football were slim, so this is a great opportunity for him. Let's hope he can allow GH to get us some great loan players in as others have said

I recently read "Psycho", the autobiography of Stuart Pearce. He actually names Mark Ward as the most difficult player he has had to defend against in the Football League over almost 20 seasons !

He even makes the comment that when he replies "Mark Ward", people say "Mark who" ?

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If a team goes bump or gets relegated through the divisions it normally means a reprieve for a relegated team rather than an extra promotion place. If this wasn't the case Alty would've been relegated a few times over by now!

The timing is important. They are now a league one team so if they go broke a league two team should replace them.

What happens and what maybe should happen are two different things.
If the Saints go bump before a ball is kicked, then League One will play with an odd number of teams next season. If they 'go' mid-season, then the number of relegation places will be reduced.

AGMs have taken place and everything is now set in stone until the next AGM. The chances of Southampton playing in the BSP this coming season are zero

Well done to the organisers and helpers.

It's hard work raising money these days and every bit counts + this is a good opportunity to get some local residents down and can only improve the image of the club within the town