OpinionOh, we fickle fans of short memories

There was time when we fans used to chant in protest against a lousy manager and demand his sacking. If the poor results continued and the team nose-dived, the board gave the impression of listening and duly gave the underperforming coach the boot. That was the simple past and we all knew where we stood.

The present is wholly different. The world has been flipped on its head and we are steeped knee-deep in the mire of divided loyalties. Today, we protest for our good managers - those who win us games, promotion and trophies - to be returned to the dugout after they are summarily sacked for reasons not properly, if ever, explained.

Yet we direct only muted ire at the ruthless, deep-pocketed foreign owners - those who with one hand injected cash and optimism and with the other deliver a regular thump to the solar plexus to remind us of our station and who is in charge.

Chelsea fans have been hard at it, with each game witnessing anti-Rafa Benitez chants and laments for the departed Roberto Di Matteo. Their anger at owner Roman Abramovich is, however, tempered by a begrudging respect for the Russian oligarch. And they know in their heart of hearts their loyalty has zero influence over their wealthy master who transformed their club.

This week, the tide of extraneous ruthlessness washed into St Mary's and newly promoted Premier League side Southampton. The unexpected announcement that hero manager Nigel Adkins had been sacked by the club's foreign owners to be replaced by a non-English-speaking, obscure Latino - the former Argentina international Mauricio Pochettino - caused widespread anger, dismay and shock.

Protests were demanded and scheduled for Monday night's home game against Everton - the stage on which we would vent our spleen at chief executive Nicola Cortese.