It came as a shock when Southampton sacked Nigel Adkins midway through the season and replaced him witn former Espanyol boss, Mauricio Pochettino.

But since then, the Saints have played a sparkling brand of football that belied their status as relegation fodder, and they managed to secure their future in the Premier League for another season, when at times it seemed they were destined for the drop.

Pochettino has been a breath of fresh air at St Mary’s, and quickly won over the sceptical fans with his swashbuckling brand of attacking football.

And so the club will react with a degree of fear, after he admitted he could be forced to quit.

Pochettino has allied his future at Southampton to that of executive chairman Nicola Cortese.

The Press Association claims Cortese is questioning his position at Southampton, after disagreements over the backing he has received from the board.

There is a break clause in his contract that allows either Cortese or the Saints to end their relationship, which is said to be on the rocks.

And Pochettino has raised the alarm bells by lumping himself in Cortese’s boat.

Asked if he would stay should Cortese go, Pochettino said: "Of course not, because the person that has put his faith in me in this club and as a manager is Nicola Cortese.

"Nicola Cortese has basically been the reality at Southampton for the past four years. Of course, the people that are in the club, that are part of the club, that are behind the scenes in the club were a little bit worried about what has been said.

"Me on a personal sense, I would not understand a Southampton without Nicola being here."