NIGEL Adkins has been told to 'think carefully' about his future if he is given the chance to take charge at Southampton.

The Iron manager remains one of the main contenders to be named as the new Saints boss later this week, but should take into consideration the high expectation levels at St Mary's and a fan base clamouring for a higher profile appointment, according to one leading voice among the clubs' supporters.

Speculation linking Adkins with the job of being named Alan Pardew's successor has refused to go away.

Bookmaker Victor Chandler slightly lengthened the odds on the 45-year-old taking charge of the Saints following some 'informed money' on former Hull City boss Phil Brown, who has now taken over as favourite for the post.

But the United manager remains a leading candidate, given news from a source close to the South Coast club confirming that the new man in charge will be 'a young English manager who has been successful in the last few years'.

He also said an appointment was likely to be made inside the next 48 hours and that it was unlikely to be Bournemouth's Eddie Howe, another main contender.

There is also a suggestion that Southampton have now made an official approach for Adkins – something that Iron chairman Steve Wharton will not deny.

Given the fact the new boss at St Mary's will be Southampton's 13th of the Millennium, swapping a stable post at Scunthorpe for one much more volatile should be given careful consideration, according to Nick Illingsworth, chairman of the Saints' Trust.

"In the two and a half years since we last played Scunthorpe, we've had Nigel Pearson, Jan Poortvliet, Mark Wotte and Alan Pardew, so the new man will be the fifth in that time frame," he told the Telegraph.

"Given that, and if Nigel Adkins is happy where he is now, I would say he'd have to think carefully about whether he wants to come to Saints.

"Fans at Southampton expect automatic promotion. Promotion through the play-offs at the very least.

"Getting into the play-offs, but not going up, would be seen as failure. There'll be no excuses not to go up, no hiding places.

"Another drawback is at Scunthorpe he is used to working with young players, whereas at Southampton, we don't have young players.

"Our squad is full of seasoned professionals who we've spent a lot of money on to get the best players in the division.

"I think a third of supporters would say Nigel Adkins would not be a bad appointment, a third would think 'hmmm' but give him a chance and the other third would expect Martin O'Neill or Jose Mourinho.

"This is a man who got Scunthorpe promoted twice and kept them in the Championship so for me, he's the type of man who has the tools to do the job.

"But in football, some supporters can't see past the people who've played for England. They think those players have a god given right to be a good manager."

Exiled in League One for a second successive season, the stakes of a Saints switch are high given that Adkins has more or less a job for life at Glanford Park on the back of keeping Scunthorpe in the second tier of English football for the first time in more than 40 years last term.

But by the same token, the rewards are lavish.

"It won't be easy for any manager, but whoever gets the job will take over a team that has a Premier League stadium and still attracts an average crowd of more then 20,000 a week," said Illingworth.

"The squad is there and the training facilities are there."