IMO a fragmentation of the league will occur and I will be happy to watch Saints win the CCC year after year and decline promotion to the Premiership where it becomes too expensive and marginal to operate for a mid-size club.
Anyone knows that Soton and Portsmouth are different ports by dint. Why have trading and cruise ships always left from Soton? Deep water. A loaded panamax cargo ship has a draught of 12 metres. That won't get into Portsmouth.
If it is true and there are port interests behind it then fine. Why the **** couldn't Rupert Lowe see that?
As some of you will know I have long argued that an approach to a long haul shipping enterprise that needs more Euro dock space via development was obvious for Saints. I mentioned Hutichison Whampoa but there are many others who can't get in to Rotterdam with panamax ships as it's full.