DYNAMIC DAVE: Defender Dave Merrington is in action for Burnley against Leeds United. He is pictured taking on Paul Madeley, with Jack Charlton in close proximity

COACH ON COAST: Merrington at Southampton

SIR Clive Woodward, Director of Football? Paul Sturrock sacked after 13 games? Unknown Steve Wigley, head coach? Funny things are happening down on the south coast.

To shed some light on exactly what's going on, I spoke to Dave Merrington, ex-manager of Southampton and former Clarets skipper.

Dave said: "Southampton used to be one of the most stable clubs around but with so many changes of manager over the past few seasons, it's now becoming a bit of a laughing stock.

"To put things in perspective, there was a photograph in the local paper a few weeks ago that showed Sturrock and chairman Rupert Lowe - wearing a tracksuit with his initials on it - looking in opposite directions.

"Sometimes a picture does paint a thousand words. High profile people with very good business acumen are now coming into the game and, perhaps they think by applying the same principles, success will be achieved in football.

"I have my doubts. Once those demarcation lines are breached, I feel it spells trouble."

Dave's own playing career was one cut short through injuries and led to him following mentor, Jimmy Adamson, into coaching roles at Sunderland and Leeds.

But when Lawrie McMenemy contacted him to offer a chance to take over the youth development programme at Southampton, the seeds were sewn.

"Lawrie had been impressed with the way Burnley had developed outstanding young players and wanted to replicate the structure and strategy employed at Turf Moor," Dave explained.

"My policies had been influenced by the coaching framework of Jimmy Adamson and found it was a great foundation in developing young talent.

"Young players like the Wallace twins, Matt Le Tissier, Jason Dodd, Jeff Kenna and Alan Shearer came to the fore and we could see a volcano was about to erupt.

"The quality was excellent and there was a gold seam of talented kids, itching to force their way into the first team reckoning.

"I tried to introduce into the kids programme an appreciation of their involvement in the game.

"I took them down to a day centre - where alcoholics, drug addicts and the homeless would assemble - and tried to instil in the boys that in different circumstances they could be in the same position.

"It kept their feet firmly on the ground and they didn't take anything for granted."

Dave added: "I used to have an expression: 'Give me a boy for two years and I'll turn him into a man'.

"Football is a hard profession and, to survive, it's very important that you prepare them for two things - the industry of football and life outside of the game.

"I wanted to produce players who could stand on their own feet and have respect for themselves, so that when they crossed that white line they would have the confidence to think for themselves, instead of constantly looking at the dug out for instruction.

"The other scenario was the one of coping with life after a major disappointment. We hoped that through the guidelines, discipline and framework that had been introduced in the youth programme, they would have the self belief to go forward and build a new career."

During his playing days, Dave built up a reputation as a tough opponent; someone who was 100 per cent committed to the cause and would take no prisoners.

He first arrived at Burnley in 1960 and trained on Tuesday and Thursday nights while sharing terrace sweeping duties with the rest of the groundstaff lads.

Thankfully, he went on to have a long career at Burnley, albeit one continually blighted by serious injuries that at least gave him a unique insight into the life of one of the club's great characters.

Dave explained: "I had a lingering Achilles tendon problem and lots of injections ultimately finished me.

"I did spend a lot of time in the physio room and probably got to know Jimmy Holland better than anyone at the club."

"On one occasion I remember the reserve keeper, Rod Jones, getting his calf muscle warmed by the heat machine when Jimmy moved it to begin the massage.

"The machine was then pointing directly on Jimmy's head. He had this massive burn on his crown and the doctor was called to treat the physio!

"On another occasion Gordon Harris had a knee problem. Jimmy wrapped it in a blanket, put the electrical wires in place, increased the current and set the timer for 20 minutes.

"When the bell went, Gordon was insistent that the treatment had done no good at all.

"Jimmy went berserk, shouting, 'don't you tell me how to do my job. I'm the physio and you're just the player'.

"'But Jimmy', replied Gordon. 'I know its not doing me any good - you've put it on the wrong knee!'"