LIKE I’ve said before, phone calls are coming in from people who we don’t talk with on a regular basis but with the lockdown situation, they probably have nothing else better to do.

It’s always nice to hear from ex-players that I haven’t spoken to in many years and it’s always good to hear how they are getting on in their retirement.

This week it was a call from Mel Blyth, a member of the FA Cup-winning side.

Mel has always lived up in the London area – even when he played for us – as he previously had been a Crystal Palace player.

Over the years, he has acted as an Ambassador for Palace and attends games and goes around the hospitality boxes.

Dressing rooms are always full of leg-pulling and good humour and, amongst the FA Cup team, Mel was noted to be ‘Mean Mel’.

Whenever there was a sort of collection or ticket sale, he would be missing - but he took it in good style!

When he rang this time, I said to him, ‘What are you after now, Mel?’.

He told me his FA Cup medal has been put up for sale but that it’s mainly to look after his two children.

Also, he was asking if there was going to be any celebration with the FA Cup-winning team next year because it will be the 45th anniversary, bearing in mind there was a wonderful get-together to celebrate 40 years, but I’ve heard nothing on that front so far.

We mainly spoke about football and we both agreed that the news that Ralph has signed a new long-term contract was good for the club and supporters.

Mel then produced facts and figures that I couldn’t believe at first.

After my time, which was 12 years, bearing in mind I followed the legend Ted Bates, who was there 18 years.

We had 30 years between us and neither of us had to leave and it was our choice. But Chris Nicholl, one of my ex-players took over from me and was the longest-serving boss since I was in charge after spending six years in the dugout.

What I couldn’t believe was that after Chris left in 1991, 29 years ago, we’ve had well over 20 managers.

I’m sure a lot of supporters would read this and think it’s wrong because that’s what I thought.

I couldn’t believe that a club who had one managerial change in 30 years could have so many changes in the following period.

But full marks to the board because Ralph has proved how good a manager he is.

An example of this is him telling Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that he won’t be his captain next season if he doesn’t sign a new contract, as the midfielder is about to enter the 12 months of his contract.

This is a good sign of strong management and full marks to Ralph for that.

I’ve said in the past that a lot of managers coming from abroad only want to coach but Ralph is proving he wants to take on the management side which is so vital.

Players are persuaded by agents these days, but it looks as though players like Hojbjerg, who are entering the final 12 months of a deal, won’t sign a new contract because it means they can walk out the door in 12 months’ time and pick up a huge amount of money as there won’t be a transfer fee.

I will keep an eye on this because Pierre should think twice – especially when he is being supported so well by not only the supporters but also Ralph, who made him his captain when he arrived in December 2018 and has improved him as a player.

Well done to Saints for extending Ralph’s contract.

Now we have a date for the return of Premier League football, it’s something we can all look forward to.

I, for one, can’t wait to see the matches as all 92 of them are going to be shown on TV.

But the only thing we really want is for the gates to open so that the crowd can flood in and enjoy their football again.

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IRONICALLY, whilst praising Ralph, Mel Blyth and I had to have a bit of a smile after reading what Mr Pochettino had said in an interview.

He said that during his time at Southampton, which was only 18 months, the way he got everybody playing had changed the face of English football.

I still can’t understand what he meant by that, but he gave the impression that he brought in youngsters and altered the style of play.

Well, I’m sorry Mauricio, but looking at your age you must have been at school when players like Alan Shearer Matt Le Tissier, the three Wallace brothers and many, many more came through the ranks and went into the first team.

But you would be far too young to know that.

I look with interest to see where you will turn up next and wonder whether you’ll bring another style of play to alter the landscape for the second time.