Saints FA Cup legend Jim Steele has demanded the club stop being a “feeder” club and concentrate on reaching the top six.

Steele was man-of-the-match at Wembley when Lawrie McMenemy’s side beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final in 1976. The Scot keeps an eye on all affairs at St Mary’s and considers the current situation “ridiculous”.

Saints have already seen manager Mauricio Pochettino leave for Tottenham and Rickie Lambert depart for boyhood heroes Liverpool.

Captain Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Dejan Lovren also want to leave following the World Cup. Steele wants Saints to act, saying: “We don’t want the club to be a feeder anymore. “The club has the capability to be a top-six club – the situation with all the players is absolutely ridiculous.

“We’ve got Lovren handing in his transfer request, we’ve got Lallana and Shaw looking like they’re on the way.

“We might as well go back down the divisions and play lower leagues at this rate.

“There’s no ambition.

“There must be a point where you have to change from a feeder club to a club that are pushing for better things.” As for who he would like to see replace Pochettino, Steele said: “(Ronald) Koeman would be the best choice. “He’s got what it takes to bring in big name players that we’ll need.”