However, let's try and look for the silver lining in this dark, dark cloud of a season by running through the speculation on who will be getting their dream move to Southampton.
The outs
Everyone. Let's move on shall we?
The ins
Now you're talking. With a central defender and a striker top of the agenda who are the stellar names linked with a move?
Chris Baird
Despite his recent appearances in the Fulham squad and even starting line-up, Baird has been strongly linked with a return to Saints where he performed so well. The sticking point is, as ever, wages with Saints unable to match his Premiership salary, but the player may well be coming as part of a deal involving Lallana, a summer target for Fulham.
3/5 Broadsheet
Marlon Harewood
With Saints short of firepower all season, Harewood has found it difficult to get into the Villa side and with O'Neill looking to buy another striker he is likely to remain on the fringes. Powerful and pacey, Harewood is a force to be reckoned with in the Championship and would be an ideal loan signing up front. Again wages and competition from other sides in the league make this a difficult ask, but his goals could mean the difference between staying up and going down.
2/5 Tabloid
Danny Welbeck
Man Utd may well repay the Saints' defence's generosity for gifting the (offside) youngster the opening goal by allowing the emerging youngster to go on loan and continue his development alongside the fellow youngsters at Southampton. Quick, with an eye for goal, he already boasts 2 goals in 4 first team appearances and would be a great signing.
2/5 Tabloid
Owain Tudor-Jones
On the fringes of the Swansea side after a lengthy injury break, Saints could be set to continue with the recent transfer policy of signing crocked midfielders yet to make it at Championship level. However, with other sides linked with the player, midfield a low priority and other sides linked with the player, surely even Saints won't blow the budget?
2/5 Tabloid
Paul Terry
Poortvliet has said he has is looking for a 'John Terry' figure and who better than his brother, Leyton Orient's Paul Terry. However, Saints may not even be able to afford him and may go for another 'revolutionary' appointment by going for former Hampshire cricket coach Paul 'the other Paul Terry' Terry.
1/5 Some bloke down the pub
Christian Dailly
If you believe the messageboards, then Christian Dailly is about to return from Rangers once again to shore up Saints' leaky defence. Only you don't do you, so he isn't.
1/5 Some bloke down the pub
Some bloke you've never heard of
Get Google at the ready as another hidden gem to match the likes of Pekhart and Gasmi heads to our underachieving club.
5/5 Holding up a shirt
Guide to On the Cross ratings:
0/5 Men in white coats time
1/5 Some bloke down the pub
2/5 Tabloid
3/5 Broadsheet
4/5 Official site
5/5 Holding up a shirt