When Nigel Pearson became manager of Southampton in February 2008, the team had won only one of their last 11 Championship matches and had slumped to 18th in the table.

They promptly lost again and Pearson attempted to stop the rot by bringing in centre-back Ian Pearce, on a 30-day loan from Premiership Fulham. Ian had had plenty of top-flight experience, despite having had more than his share of injuries. In 1995, he had won a Premier League medal with Blackburn and had been capped at U-21 level. But he had not started for Fulham all season. His first appearance for Southampton, a 1-1 draw would be his last, as he picked up a knock. He was soon freed by Fulham, whereupon he dropped 11 divisions in the football pyramid to play as a forward for his first club, Oxted and District. After which, he had two more non-league clubs, book-ending a spell as assistant-manager at League Two Lincoln.