PAUL Sturrock has become the first managerial casualty of the season already and the decision at Southampton seems strange.

If anything, it seems to have come from a bit of media and player pressure. His record at Plymouth was fantastic and it wasn't terrible at Southampton.

They had won one and lost one this season so there was no real area for concern results-wise. Two games is also a bit early to be making judgements - you would normally be assessing things after about half-a-dozen to ten matches.

Plymouth are still strong and reaping the benefits of what he's done and maybe the magic word in all of this is loyalty. Even though managing and playing in the Premier League is everybody's dream, it's sometimes worth sticking where you are and finishing the job off because there's a lot to be said for being happy in your work.

Away from football, I have been absorbed in the Olympic Games and the biggest moment so far, for me, was Kelly Holmes' gold in the 800 metres. It's a long time since I have screamed and shouted at the television but I was on Monday night.

We are all patriotic and it was fantastic to see her gaining success at the age of 34. She has suffered a lot but it showed what you can achieve if you look after yourself.

Merlene Ottey also reached the 200m semi-finals at the age of 42 and still looked well.

Similarly, it has been heartening to look at Paul Groves' performances at 38 and what he does in training. Paul, Steve Davis, Lee Nogan and Kevin Donovan all hold their own during sessions because they are fit and have looked after themselves through their careers and are now reaping the benefits.

If you abuse yourself as a youngster it catches up with you. In football, the average career of a professional is eight years, some finishing because of injury while others drop out of the game.

I have been at a professional club for 15 years now while Lee and Paul have probably been going 20 and you can increase your longevity by correct practice in the early years.

Great Britain's 17-year-old boxer Amir Khan, of course, belongs to that next generation. What you look at from youngsters is potential. It's realising it that's the next step but he's certainly doing that on the biggest possible stage.

He's come of age and grown in confidence with every fight, which should happen to our teenage winger Bryan Stewart the more games he plays. Amir Khan is confident and arrogant without saying he's going to knock the guy's head off and he's very impressive when he talks to the media.

It's pleasing to see the Brits do well because I don't think expectations were high in general. They were high, of course, for Paula Radcliffe before her disappointment in the marathon.

It will be interesting to see what decision she makes over the 10,000 metres and it will depend on how Sunday's experience has affected her mental strength. That is part and parcel of being a sportsman or woman.

Arsenal have gone so long unbeaten but you have to accept you will lose eventually and somebody will be better than you on the day. It's how you bounce back and react to it, which we will also have to do at Gravesend on Saturday after our disappointing defeat against Hereford.

You have got to make sure you believe in yourself and get a result and performance in the next race or match. Only Paula will know if she's ready because she's not in a team game.

Hopefully, she can exorcise the demons. She's a tremendous athlete and it would be a massive comeback if she could do it.

She should not be rash but if she does go for it I'm sure she'll have the backing of the whole country.

Updated: 09:38 Thursday, August 26, 2004