Ian Baird saddened by Southampton FC's plight (From This is Hampshire)

Ian Baird saddened by Southampton FC's plight

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EX-SAINT Ian Baird is convinced there will always be a Southampton Football Club, but says there is no time to waste in securing the club’s future now that the long drawn-out Pinnacle saga has hit the rocks.

“The sooner something gets sorted out, the better,”

said Baird, whose Eastleigh team host Saints in their opening pre-season friendly at the Silverlake Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Having joined Saints as an associate schoolboy in 1978, Baird – a former England schoolboy international – developed into a strong, bustling centre-forward.

He made 24 first-team appearances in the red and white stripes, scoring five goals, before moving on to a highly successful career with the likes of Leeds, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Bristol City, Hearts, Plymouth and Brighton, totting up more than 500 appearances.

His first club, though, remain very close to his heart and, like all Saints fans, Baird has been saddened by the unfolding horror show at St Mary’s.

“It’s very sad what’s happened,” he said. “The problem with clubs being bought out is that so many things can go wrong.

“I’m a bit surprised by Pinnacle’s stance, but then I don’t know the ins and outs of it all.

“But as a Southampton fan and a past player I believe that, for the sake of the football club, something has got give – and it’s got to happen very, very quickly.”

Given the turbulent events of recent years, it’s hard to credit that, back in Baird’s Dell days, Saints were renowned for their stability.

“Historically Southampton has always been a safe, well-run, family club, and it’s sad it’s come to this,” said Baird. “The worst-case scenario is what happened to Accrington and Aldershot and, in this day and age, you can’t rule anything out, but I’m still of the opinion that there will always be a Southampton FC.

“Something needs to be sorted out very quickly though because we’ve got a fire sale now where clubs are able to cherrypick Saints’ better players and take them for next to nothing.”

While Baird is having a fairly straightforward time preparing Eastleigh for another assault on Blue Square South promotion, he can’t help but feel for Mark Wotte who has spent the last two months in limbo.

“Players are very resilient and I’m pretty sure Saints’ players will be paid even if it means the PFA coming in to help,” he said.

“But for the manager and backroom staff, it’s like skating on thin ice.

“How can you prepare for the season like this?

“One minute Mark Wotte’s staying, the next he’s going and people are interviewing prospective new managers – and he’s left holding the baby.

“You’ve got to give him credit for standing by the football club.”

As for Saints’ supporters, Baird is convinced that, despite the turmoil, they will turn out in force at the Silverlake tomorrow.

“It’s the first game Saints have played since the end of last season.

I’m sure fans will be here getting behind them,” he said.

Admission tomorrow is £10 adults and £6 concessions.

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