THESE are the shocking images that show two Saints stars entering an unlocked nightclub staff room at the centre of a theft allegation.

Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips and his team-mate Nathan Dyer may be questioned by police investigating an allegation of theft from barmaids' handbags at Bar Bluu in Southsea. Hours earlier the pair and three pals had arrived for a VIP night to watch R&B star Kano where they were also offered champagne and cocktails.

As they left the club at 3am via a back entrance to avoid the crowds, one of their group - a man wearing a white jumper - can be seen stopping outside the staff room's open door.

Having entered the staff room another CCTV image shows him with his hand on a barmaid's handbag as injured forward Dyer, who earns around £5,000 a week, watches.

The 20-year-old player, who has not been match-fit since December, is then caught on camera handling the handbag while Bradley Wright-Phillips, who earns £8,000 every week, stands in the doorway.

Another image shows Dyer, whose Saints contract ends in the summer, and the man in the white jumper peering over the handbag before Wright-Phillips, 22, is seen looking down the corridor outside the staff room.

In the final CCTV still one of the members of the group is seen to stand in front of a barmaid in the corridor.

Barmaid Emma Parker, 18, who earns £5.50 an hour and alleges her phone was stolen, said: "It's pathetic. I work for just over the minimum wage."

Fellow barmaid and law student Noo Kristin, 18, claims she had £60 stolen and the contents of her handbag thrown on the floor.

Today, Saints bosses have been criticised for not launching an investigation sooner into the footballers' actions even though it is understood they were offered a chance see the CCTV footage after the February 28 incident.

Yesterday, 12 days after the event Southampton chairman Leon Crouch refused to be drawn on why the club did not take more immediate action against the players.

He also refused to be drawn on why the club initially refused to watch the CCTV footage and whether it has now in fact been seen.

In the only official response from Southampton Football Club, manager Nigel Pearson said he had already taken tough action against the two players for being out at a nightclub in the early hours of the morning.

He added that the club was waiting for more details of the police investigation before deciding their next move.

He said: "The matter of the late-night socialising by these players has already been strongly dealt with internally.

"As far as the other allegations are concerned, the club views these seriously but will await full details and will then decide on what action to take."

However a Saints spokesman refused to elaborate on the manager's comment and whether the late night socialising referred to the Bar Bluu incident.

Bradley Wright-Phillips, 22, was in fact dropped two days afterwards for Saints' home game against Ipswich before being recalled for the team's midweek clash with Wolves.

He was on the substitutes' bench on Saturday in Saints' 2-2 Championship draw at Blackpool and came on in the second half, despite the allegation's having surfaced in some of Saturday's national newspapers.

The football club spokesman added that the incident was "in the hands of the police".

A Hampshire police spokesman has confirmed they are studying the CCTV footage following the theft allegation at Bar Bluu.

Three mobile phones, £145 in cash, student cards and cigarettes were reported stolen from three different handbags.

A police spokesman said: "Hampshire Constabulary are currently investigating an allegation of theft which occurred at Bar Bluu, Southsea, in the early hours of Thursday, February 28.

"The incident was reported to us on March 5.

"No arrests have been made and this incident is still under investigation."

It is understood that Bar Bluu general manager Chris Sheridan phoned Southampton Football Club when he recognised the Saints players and spoke to acting chief executive Lee Hoos.

Following Southampton Football Club's silence on the matter it is understood that Mr Sheridan reported the matter to police last Wednesday.

Yesterday, Mr Sheridan was not available for comment when the Daily Echo contacted Bar Bluu.

Nick Illingsworth, Southampton Independent Supporters' Association Chairman, said the club should have acted more quickly, watched the CCTV footage and spoken to the players involved.

"Obviously they cannot deal with the incident unless they watch the CCTV footage and then carry out their own investigation."

And he said that for hard-working fans who continued to pay out hundreds of pounds on season tickets the incident could not come at a worse time with the club teetering on the edge of the relegation zone.

Mr Illingsworth said that footballers had a duty to raise their game off as well as on the pitch with so many young fans looking up to them as role models.

"Players do have a responsibility - there is no doubt about that. Kids admire them and look at their behaviour," he said.

Stuart Peters, the agent for Wright-Phillips who is the son of former England star Ian Wright, reportedly said: "We're very relaxed about this.

"I have seen the footage and it's quite clear that Bradley Wright Phillips was not involved.

"He hasn't taken a single thing."

The Daily Echo was unable to speak to anyone on behalf of 20-year-old Dyer despite attempts made via Southampton Football Club.