Nigel Pearson could yet be rewarded for masterminding Southampton's dramatic final-day escape from relegation by keeping hold of his job as manager at St Mary's.
Pearson's future is up in the air after Rupert Lowe and fellow ex-chairman Michael Wilde called for an Extraordinary General Meeting, which will be held on May 16 with a view to removing current supremo Leon Crouch and most of the board.
Were Lowe and Wilde to complete a successful return to the south-coast club - which appears a formality given they control 46% of the shares - then Glenn Hoddle has been linked with a managerial comeback.
But following the thrilling 3-2 win over Sheffield United which secured Southampton's survival in the Coca-Cola Championship, Crouch revealed he is still in talks with potential investors.
"We have been talking to investors for some time," he said.
"We just need them to come forward with the money, and then we will not need to have an EGM."
Pearson took over from caretaker bosses John Gorman and Jason Dodd - who themselves replaced Scotland-bound George Burley - in February after quitting as Newcastle coach.
Just two wins in 13 attempts before Sunday saw Saints slip into the drop zone, but Crouch believes Pearson has done enough in his short tenure to keep the role.
"He's got passion and presence and that passes all the way through the dressing room and the whole club," Crouch added.
"Whoever takes over, I hope they will note what has happened [against Sheffield United] and over the last two months. He knows if I am still in charge then he will be the manager next season."
Saints looked down and out when Stephen Quinn opened the scoring for the Blades, and even after Marek Saganowski and Stern John fired them ahead they were staring down the barrel of the third tier in English football when Jon Stead equalised.
But John hit a winner to spark delirious scenes among the sell-out crowd - although Pearson admitted the victory could not paper over the cracks at the cash-strapped club.
"I'm not going to kid myself because it's a situation we'd rather not be in as a club," he said.
"If you'd looked the start of the year you wouldn't have said it would be an achievement to stay up. That needs to be addressed - because it is now.
"When the dust settles we have to look at how we move the club forward."
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