MARKUS LIEBHERR 
Markus Liebherr owner of Southampton Football Club died aged 62 on Wednesday 11 August 2010. The suddenness of his passing came as a huge shock to thousands of Saints supporters whose thoughts are now with his family and friends.
It was barely a year ago that the Swiss industrialist saved the Club from extinction and enabled it to remain in the Football League. Although Mr Liebherr was unknown to many of the Saints fans, his marine cranes are a familiar sight in Southampton Docks. It is reported that he fell in love with the Saints as soon as he set foot inside St Mary’s Stadium and was determined in his ambition to return the Club to the Premiership.
Those who knew Markus Liebherr said that although he was a “man of few big words” he loved football and was passionate about “his” Southampton. He was immensely impressed by the loyalty of Saints supporters. The number of tributes placed outside St Mary’s Stadium is a clear indication of the fans' reciprocal esteem and gratitude to Marcus.
Saints fans everywhere are saddened by his sudden loss. However, the forty-four thousand plus who were at Wembley Stadium last season will recall with affection the sight of Markus Liebherr sharing in their delight as Club Captain Kelvin Davis held aloft the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Markus, busily “snapping” the scene of the Saints triumph, resembled more a doting grandparent at a family wedding, than the billionaire owner of a football club!
Mr Liebherr’s generosity saved Southampton FC from disaster in 2009, his investment in the Club and his vision for its future were on a grand scale; and it is understood that even after his death his care for the Saints will continue.
He was truly a Saint and will always be remembered with affection and gratitude.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Thu Aug 12 16:36:52 UTC+0100 2010
(Photo: Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Great Expectations 
This time last year Saints fans were despairing as the club dropped for first time into the lower levels of league football. Few then would have thought that the 2009/10 Season would have been one of Southampton’s most productive for many decades. In fact there was a period when three-nil winning margins appeared to be the club’s default result. It’s been a long time since Southampton fans could begin the forthcoming season with such great expectations.
Despite achieving a more than creditable seventh place position and putting a new trophy in the cabinet the Saints ended their season with an anti-climatic air. The opportunity of gaining a promotion play-off place had disappeared a couple of games earlier, the non appearance of Club saviour Markus Liebherr at the last game, plus the unexplained lack of the matchday programme made for a less than euphoric mood and added to the anxiety. Surely Southampton FC weren’t going to indulge in another summer of intrigue?
Well that’s in the past and although the pre-season fixtures failed to produce the anticipated results (they never do), nevertheless, despite the recession and the dropping of the club’s credit scheme, some thirteen-thousand supporters have already demonstrated their faith by renewing their season tickets. Their belief is based on manager Alan Pardew’s astute signings and his achievements with the First Team last season.
Twenty-ten sees Southampton begin their one hundred and twenty-fifth year in English football against Championship relegated Plymouth Argyle. The game will give Saints fans an opportunity to view the manager’s close season signings, Frazer Richardson and Danny Butterfield, the defenders expected to fill the void left by the departing Lloyd James and Wayne Thomas; and now that Southampton and Brentford have agreed with the conclusions of the Professional Football Compensation Committee it is hoped that Saints fans will be able to greet the newcomer Ryan Dickson.
Argyle, now under the stewardship of former Saint, Peter Reid, will also be keen to impress their new manager who gave up a lucrative post in charge of the Thai national side. The Pilgrims will also be anxious to get off to a flying start for like Saints supporters they do not want to linger in this division.
It is now a case of “Promotion or Bust”
Come On You Reds.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Wed Aug 4 16:15:17 UTC+0100 2010
Photos: Getty Images and PA
WHAT A RETURN
What a treat for this Southampton supporter watching the Saints play again, following a spell in hospital. And what better sight to see than both Club and Team Captains hoist the Johnstone’s Paint Football League Trophy before 44000 joyous Southampton fans at Wembley. Just what the doctor ordered!
When the Exiled Saint last saw the Saints play they enjoyed an emphatic 3-1 win against Exeter City on Boxing Day. The team was then in the middle of a six-match run of undefeated games at St Mary’s. The Saints, despite loosing an away game to Colchester United, enjoyed an excellent second half of the season with their only other loss to arch rivals Portsmouth in mid-February.
Apart from slip-ups against Tranmere Rovers and Swindon Town, the Saints continue to progress, even scoring five goals in a brace of games, are currently tenth in the table, enter the closing stages of the season with a game in hand and are tantalisingly close to a League One Play-off position. For a short while so outstanding was Southampton’s advancement without the presence of the Exiled Saint, that future non-attendance was being considered!
However, resistance to such temptation was amply rewarded for when the Exiled Saint seated amongst the fans in the national stadium the Saints romped home to a resounding 4-1 victory over fellow finalists Carlisle United last Sunday. It seemed at the final whistle, there was a sense of liberation and relief as if all of football’s bad dreams in the Solent were at last over. After all the trials and tribulations of recent years, the Saint’s triumph in winning the Trophy seemed to be compensation not just for their fans, but the whole area.
To be honest, as games go, it was far from being a “show-stopper”. The match was barely fifteen minutes old before Carlisle’s central-defender, Peter Murphy “handballed” in the penalty area and provided Rickie Lambert not only with an opportunity to add to his goal tally as the League’s top scorer, but also to set the Saints on their way. Just before the interval, Adam Lallana added to the Cumbrians woes when, unmarked, he headed past the hapless Collin. The Saints victory was all but sealed when Papa Waigo struck the ball into an empty net after the Carlisle ‘keeper had parried with an excellent reaction stop. On the hour mark Michail Antonio put the game to bed when he thrashed a low shot from outside the area. In the game’s closing moments Carlisle’s Gary Madine headed home a consolation goal.
All of the Southampton squad demonstrated their professionalism on the day. Most eye-catching was the work of Dan Harding, who for tactical reasons proved he could handle playing in the right-back position as easily as his normal left-back role. Rickie Lambert deservedly received the Man of the Match award; however, the distinction was wafer thin, as everyone in the Red & White exceeded what had been asked of them.
So, although we enter the Easter period in great spirits we have two tough games, against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leyton Orient respectively, which will not be as easy as some of our Club’s more hubristic followers may think. Should we win these games then perhaps our access to a league play-off position may be more than just aspirational.
Come On You Saints.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Thu Apr 1 16:13:48 UTC+0100 2010
Photos: Paddy Browne, and AP.
GOING OFF LINE
As I’ll be undergoing a Coronary Artery Bypass operation within the next couple of days the Exiled Saint will be going “offline” for a short spell.
All being well, I hope that both the Saints and myself will be in a better position by the time I come back “online”.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Mon Jan 18 11:35:26 UTC 2010
