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
MID-TERM REVIEW
It’s a new year, a new decade, and a good time to look back and take stock of recent events at the Saints. Goodness knows, this past six months have provided Saints fans with enough topics for a year, if not a whole decade!
Back in July there may have been fans predicting Southampton FC would eradicate its imposed ten-point penalty, escape the relegation zone, and occupy a mid-table position. And all by the Christmas fixtures. If there were such supporters then their prophecies may have been influenced by an over indulgence in recreational pharmaceuticals! Nevertheless, a euphoric spirit has returned to St Mary’s.
At the end of the nineties Saints supporters were looking forward to moving from the much-loved but dreadfully cramped Dell, their home for the previous hundred years, to the new 32000 seater stadium at St Mary’s. That last decade witnessed many of Southampton’s Great Escapes, which, looking back, were a foresight of future times. However, optimistic thoughts prevailed when, during the final match played at the Dell, Saint’s talisman, Matthew Le Tissier, came on in the final moments of the match to score the winning goal to beat the Arsenal 3-2. 
Declining Decade
In those early “Naughtie” years everything seemed so bright; the Club had a new manager, Gordon Strachan; the Saints not only finished eleventh and twelfth in the Premiership in successive seasons, but also made the trip to Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, as FA Cup Finalists. During that period they beat the mighty Manchester United on their home turf! Throughout that time the Saint’s most valuable asset, its youth Academy, nurtured by Georges Proust, one of the architects of the renowned French FA school Clairefontaine, continued to provide a steady supply young of blood making the Staplewood Training Centre the envy of many of the nation’s wealthier clubs.
However, by mid decade, Strachan resigned (to take a study break from football), and Southampton embarked on a series of managerial comings and goings much to the bewilderment of the Club’s ardent fans. Later when family illness forced Proust to take early retirement, the Academy was raided and the Clubs’ family silver sold. These actions had an inevitably detrimental affect, and the Saints, after twenty-seven continuous years in top-flight football, were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship. If all this wasn’t bad enough, a resurgence of boardroom discord, held at bay during the successful years, placing the Saints in the spotlight, but for all the wrong reasons.
A Sad Season
The 2008/09 season must rank as the lowest in the Clubs’ history. It was “asset-stripped” of experienced players. It would be possible to make two squads from those departing during the Saints Diaspora. Despite their enthusiastic and gallant efforts the remaining young players were soon demoralised as the number of defeats mounted. Predictably attendances fell as the fans were faced with yet another demotion for their Club; the Boardroom hostilities intensified and it all proved too great a strain on the Clubs’ financial resources. Eventually Southampton FC was forced into Administration incurring a penalty deduction of ten points, guaranteeing an even lower position in the English football leagues.
Last year’s close season was a traumatic affair, as fans helplessly watched the toings and froings of the assorted bidders for the Club. Depending upon the rumour mill, Southampton’s suitors were an IT billionaire, assorted members of a Saudi family, various consortiums comprised of ex-players and impassioned well-wishers. One of the latter, headed by Saint’s legend Matt Le Tissier, for a time looked very promising, acquiring a period of “exclusivity” from the Administrator. However, this bid proved unsustainable and was allowed to lapse on 30 June. Sun Jan 3 16:10:42 UTC 2010
For a brief period the demise of Southampton Football Club was more than just pub gossip and seemed on the cards. However, on 8 July the Saints was rescued when all its assets were eventually bought and owned by Markus Leibherr, a member of the Swiss engineering family. Herr Leibherr appointed Nicola Cortese as CEO in charge of the Club’s affairs, who immediately appointed Alan Pardew, previously with Charlton Athletic and West Ham United respectively, as Saints’ manager. Pardew had exactly four weeks to get a team ready for its opening League One fixture against Millwall!
Encouraging Times Ahead
The opening months of the season saw Southampton continue to languish at the foot of the table, but under the influence of Pardew’s inspired signings and considerable coaching skills the Saints steadily started to win instead of drawing or losing games. Coupled with an excellent goal-difference, the major double objective (clearing the League-imposed ten point deficit and escaping from the bottom rung) the Christmas period saw the Saints jump to a mid-table position.
So far the 2009/10 season has been a bit of a roller coaster. The Club is still in contention for both the FA Challenge Cup, and the Football League Trophy. Plus it now has a more than half decent chance of climbing higher in the table with the added possibility of gaining a promotion play-off place. Saints’ fans can look forward to more exciting times ahead.
More encouraging is that throughout this most difficult of seasons Saints supporters have kept faith, resulting in some of the highest attendances not only in the Coca-Cola Football League but comparing favourably with those of the Barclay’s FA Premiership League. But, even more importantly, Southampton St Mary’s Stadium is once again a happy place to come and watch exciting football.
May it continue for the rest of the season and throughout the new decade!
Come On You Saints.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Sun Jan 3 16:13:06 UTC 2010
Photos: BBC Sport; PA Sport, Yahoo Sport & The Guardian Sport
FESTIVE SPIRITS
Southampton fans have been starved of success over recent years, so last month’s triple feat, overcoming their League-imposed ten point penalty, breaking out of the relegation zone and remaining clear of it goes a long way to satisfy a little of their hunger. Having played throughout all of October without loosing, fans may safely look back on the defeat at the hands of the Seagulls, Brighton & Hove Albion, in mid-November and declare it an aberration. Coupled with the Club’s progress in both the FA Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy competitions the Saints can continue to enjoy some confidence. 
Last Saturday’s win at Walsall, coming hard on the heels of the mid-week victory over the Chairmen, Wycombe Wanderers, just four days earlier, gives Saints’ supporters some early Christmas cheer this December. That result over the Saddler’s now puts Southampton at fifteenth position on twenty-two points, just three places from mid-table status.
However, with only two points separating Southampton from the Seagulls, our “new” South Coast rivals, there can be no room for either complacency or hubris. The hard work of maintaining our position, or better still, progressing in League One, as well staying clear of the bottom four positions, now begins!
It is a little early to review the first half of the season, but back in August had any of the fans, returning from the 3-1 Away defeat by Huddersfield Town, claimed that the Saints would be on the verge of an upper mid-table position by Christmas, there would have serious concerns about the state of their mental health. In football it’s never wise to spend too much time thinking over “what-might-have-been”, but had the Football League not imposed their ten-point penalty then Southampton would now be sixth in the overall league.
Next Saturday sees the Saints embark on another hectic spell of games. First, there is the visit of Tranmere Rovers, our old nemesis from past FA Cup runs, quickly followed a few days later by the Southern Area Semi-Final of the Paint Trophy against a fellow Championship relegated club, Norwich City. Then final game before Christmas will be an away match at Elland Road, against the League leaders, Leeds United. So, there will not be much time for resting on laurels or mince pies!
But, isn’t it nice to have a few laurels upon which to rest!!
Come On You Saints.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Mon Dec 7 16:14:24 UTC 2009
Photo: BT Yahoo!/PA
DESPERATELY SEEKING SILVER 
Rumour has it that Markus Leibherr, Southampton FC’s new owner, when inspecting the assets prior to his acquiring the Club, remarked upon the lack of trophies in the Saints’ showcase and indicated that he hoped during his ownership he would be able to improve the situation.
Unfortunately soon after his purchase a hastily constructed Saints’ team was forced to make an early exit from the Football League Carling Cup at the hands of a well-organised Premiership side, Birmingham City, thus thwarting his first opportunity of collecting silverware.
However, last Friday evening Southampton successfully progressed to the next stage of the FA Challenge Cup by beating Bristol Rovers with two excellent goals from David Connolly and another from Michail Antonio. Once again the goals coming in the second period underlining the Saints improved fitness levels.
The following Wednesday, in appallingly wet conditions, saw the Saints at last beat the Sky TV curse when Charlton Athletic visited St Mary’s for the area quarter final of the Football League Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. The “Paint Pot”, as it’s affectionately known, is restricted to clubs playing in Leagues One and Two. The Addicks, like ourselves, were relegated from the Champion
ship last season and some fans on both sides will not have heard of this competition, or if aware of it, will have regarded it with disdain. Having decisively outplayed Athletic for long periods, Southampton won the match and rightly advanced to the semi-finals. It’s doubtful if any of the scornful Saints’ fans will sneer at the opportunity of going to Wembley in the Spring of next year.
The game itself, played in front of the Saints new owner, provided three classic examples of goal scoring. First, was Lloyd James’ superb delivery from a corner right to the feet of Wayne Thomas for him to slot in the first goal. It was also Thomas’ first goal in four years and considering his recent long spell on the injury list the ensuing player celebration, for once, was justified.
Next came a perfect model of good goalkeeping distribution. Stand-in goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski threw the ball just ahead of the already advancing Dan Harding for him to possess and immediately pass onto the Saints’ front-men who, in turn, provided a goal scoring opportunity which striker Rickie Lambert duly seized upon.
Last, and to the credit of the now well-beaten Addicks, was an illustration of how not, in the dying seconds of a game, to clear a goal threat and carelessly provide a chance for the opposition to score a consolation goal.
In the past Southampton’s Academy players have acquitted themselves well in their pursuit of the FA Youth Cup and last week's comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Aldershot Town sees them through to the next stage of the competition. Our young stars-to-be will now face Hereford Town. And throughout this period the Saints’ Reserves have not been exactly idle as they continue to contest the Totesport.com Wales and West Trophy with a 3-0 win over Forest Green.
Next Sunday afternoon will see the Saints once again play in front of the television cameras when they entertain near neighbours Brighton & Hove Albion. T
he Seagulls are not currently enjoying good results, but will no doubt want to put on a good display for their newly appointed manager Gus Poyet. The Exiled Saint would like to wish the former Uruguayan player the best of good luck; but not until after six-thirty on Sunday evening!
Whilst the Saints’ quest for silverware remains undiminished it will be nice to concentrate on the League for a while.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Thu Nov 12 15:50:49 UTC 2009
Photos: FA, Johnstone's plc and By Yahoo (PA).
FIVE WINS & WE STILL DONT SING
Saints’ supporters have got so accustomed to a diet of dismal draws and disappointing loses that they are finding it difficult to cope with five consecutive wins. Nevertheless, it is great to see so many smiling faces at St Mary’s again. Why, there’s even talk of reaching the promotion playoffs. The more sober-minded supporter, whilst not wanting to appear a wet blanket in such contented company, is only too aware how quickly matters can change in league football.
There are good reasons for the fans’ new found euphoria not least of which is a superior goal difference and perhaps more importantly, a gritty determination to win, absent for many a season. Each game now has an air of anticipation, which has supporters sitting on the edges of their seats.
Gone is the anxiety whenever the Saints take a corner or a free kick, as Lloyd James appears to place the ball effortlessly for either Dean Hammond or Ricky Lambert to score. Despite repeatedly being adjudged offside, Papa Waigo is an unremitting irritant, constantly unsettling the opposition’s defence and providing opportunities for Morgan Schneiderlin and Adam Lallana to exploit at will. As if this attacking model wasn’t enough, the Saints are now able to draw upon a couple of winning substitutes in Michail Antonio and David Connelly.
Antonio, since arriving on loan from Reading, simply terrorises the defence with his pace and skills on the ball and David Connolly seems to delight in poaching gaols in the closing seconds of extra time.
All of the above attacking confidence is complemented by the diligent Paul Wotton, who links a resolute and solid defence provided by Dan Harding, Radhi Jaidi, Neal Trotman and Lloyd James, all under the command of keeper Kelvin Davis.
Although still located at the bottom of the table, should the Saint’s get a half-decent result when they visit Brisbane Road to play Leyton Orient next Saturday, then they can finally escape the dreaded drop zone. And depending on the other results, a win coupled to their excellent goal difference, could see them climb towards mid-table. Few would have thought this possible at the beginning of the campaign when the club was just emerging from near oblivion with a dearth of playing staff and with little or no time left for the new coach/manager to acquire players.
Lately, a happy feeling has returned to St Mary’s Stadium, there is an air of expectancy at away games, which has long been missing and is reflected in the stalwart attendance figures, so who knows; we might start singing again!
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Fri Oct 30 11:42:17 UTC 2009
Photo: BBC Sport/Getty
POSITIVE POINTS
After nine hundred and ninety minutes of football the Saints are at last able to clear their Football League-imposed ten-point penalty and claim two points on the League One table. And their four-one win aga
inst Gillingham last Saturday was as good a way as any to open their account!
With an average home attendance in excess of 19000 (that’s 3000 more than this time last season), St Mary’s Stadium is a much happier place despite the exasperation of having nothing to show on the point board, not matter how hard the Saints tried.
That imposed points deduction made for a very frustrating opening season for fans, coaching staff and players alike, and the club’s new owner, Markus Leibherr, along with his Chief Executive, Nicola Cortese, (above) might be forgiven for doubting their wisdom in purchasing a club in the third division of English football.
Even the most exuberant of Saints’ supporters fully realise that the hard work of climbing away from the bottom four places still remains a daunting prospect. Nevertheless, there is an air of optimism at Southampton FC.
Much of the credit must undoubtedly go to the manager, Alan Pardew, in his acquisition, subsequent coaching and moulding of the first team. Not the most popular choice of some fans, but as the late rescue of the club left him with little or no time to either obtain or train players, it would be churlish not to recognise the value of Pardew’s efforts. He went about immediately strengthening a weakened defence, by bringing in Dan Harding, Graeme Murty, Neil Trotmann and Radhi Jaidi. Although Murty is currently on the injured list, the imports have proved invaluable when added to the indigenous trio, Chris Perry, Wayne Thomas and Lloyd James. Whilst we are still at the bottom of the league table, our defensive record cannot now be so easily dismissed.
The manager’s signing of Ricky Lambert from League One competitors Bristol Rovers has been nothing short of inspirational. Lambert, who freely admits to being leaner and fitter since joining the Saints, is turning out to be the regular goal-scorer Southampton has needed for sometime. With Papa Wagio N’Diaye, a young Senegalese on loan from Fiorentina, along with Saints youngster, Adam Lallana, the Saints are now fielding a formidable strike force.
Jacob Mellis, on loan from Chelsea, and Dean Hammond from Colchester United have added a new, more confident dimension to a now very effective midfield.
Captaining this “new” side is the disciplined goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, (left) who declined a lucrative offer from West Ham choosing to stay with the Saints. Although not the best distributor of the ball, Kelvin is one the best shot-stoppers in all four echelons.
So, life is at long last looking up for at least one of the South Coast clubs. The football is not as skilful as in the higher leagues, but no longer losing games eases the pain.
It must be recorded that throughout all the recent tribulations, the Saints have enjoyed the benefit of a stalwart band of away supporters. For the last away fixture, despite a seventeen-hour round trip by coach for some fans, over nine hundred Saints supporters were visitors at Carlisle’s Brunton Park.
Excluding Round Two of Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday next, there are now two away games; Southend United and Oldham Athletic. A previous visit to the “Shrimpers” at Roots Hall was not a success. However, both they and the “Latics” are having mixed fortunes lately, so the time might be just right for an in-form Saints side to pick up a couple of good results on the road.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Photos: BBC TV/Sports
Tue Oct 6 10:56:57 UTC+0100 2009
Once again, please accept my apologies for the rather intermittent postings. I have been a little unwell of late.
Paddy Browne
LIFE IN THE LOWER LEAGUE
The Summer Game is over in our village for another year. Soon the groundsmen will start to prepare the pitch for the first football game. At least at village level the two sports continue to maintain their separate seasons.
Not so in the professional world. All the Football Leagues have been up and running for over a month and the player’s transfer window is at last closed. Apart from getting players in on loan, clubs are now unable to add their squads. Thus depriving the fans of their fantasy football manager’s speculations, at least until after the Christmas break!
For Southampton supporters the summer interval has been nothing short of a nightmare. Not only did we have to endure the seemingly unending angst of our club’s very survival, but no sooner had the Saints been rescued, then it was time to worry about appointing new coaching and playing staff.
Nevertheless, we have acquired seven new players either on long loan or outright transfers. Graeme Murty, Dan Harding, Radhi Jaidi and Neal Trotman we have now four much needed defenders. Dean Hammond seems to be at ease both attacking or defending from the midfield and the on loan Jacob Mellis, also a midfielder shows a great deal of pace. Rickie Lambert who has already proved his worth, as Papa Waigo N’Dayie will join an outright striker. Though both Jaidi (Tunis) is still awaiting a work permit, we understand that N’Dayie having made the journey to the our Emabassey in Rome just waiting for the Italian FA to stamp his papers. So, with our own Wayne Thomas returning after a very lengthy spell on the injury list, we could claim we have four-fifths of a whole new squad!
The Saints secured a creditable draw in their opening against a very physical Millwall who are tipped to be amongst the league leaders. Regrettably this was followed by loosing comprehensively to Huddersfield and Swindon Town respectively, both games away form home. The home game against Brentford ended in another stalemate. And conceding a penalty in the dying seconds of extra time in the previous Saturday’s away game against Stockport County to make yet another draw was nothing short of heartbreaking. Especially as the Saints had dominated the play for the majority of the game. And this with a team and coaching staff who have hardly had time to unpack their bags and be introduced to each other.
Last Saturday we entertained Colchester United, now have Aidy Bootroyd, our old nemesis, at their helm. Perhaps because we had invested too much hope in this fixture, one between two teams each under the managership of two the more thoughtful English coaches, that it turn out to be a bit a anti-climax. Our newly assembled team dominated the play until the referee dispatched Colchester’s Kemal Izzet from the field of play for a silly and unwarranted foul on Adam Lallana in the thirty-fifth minute. The Saints then provided a textbook demonstration of what could be called “The Ten Man Paradox” or “How to throw away a numerical advantage in football”.
It beggars belief that those among the Saints coaching staff failed to mention this basic sports physcological paradigm which runs on the following lines; “Unless the team with the numerical superiority immediately press home its advantage then the team with fewer players with soon adjust and learn to compensate for their lack of arithmetical power”. Thus the Southampton for all their dominance was held an scoreless draw by a side inferior both in numbers and skill.
Many Saints fans are already showing signs of exasperation via the various sections of Internet. It would be appear that some of our supporters have become so inured to the “instant society” that they’ve forgotten that hardly a month ago we were facing football oblivion. However, so far at least they have not behaved like some of the Norwich City fans that tore up their season tickets after less than ninety minutes of football!
Life’s not easy in League One!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Sun Sep 6 17:08:26 UTC+0100 2009
(Photos BBCTV'Getty Images and Yahoo!/PA).
Please accpet my apologies for the late posting, but I've not been a little under par of late.
Thank You.
NEW BEGININGS
This time last year Saints supporters were bemoaning the fact that once again our team had failed to win the opening fixture. In all honesty there can’t be many fans who can remember Southampton FC ever winning an opening game.
Little we did we realise then what the rest of the season had in store for us. It is still difficulty to believe that less than a month ago survival as a Football League club was the height of our aspirations. Whatever trials Southampton fans endure, boredom cannot one of them!
Thanks to a new owner, capable of providing some much needed financial stability and new manager with a record of taking teams on to higher things, we will be able once again to walk into St. Mary’s Stadium full of optimism, despite carrying a ten-point penalty.
Whether we can break our twin curses, always loosing our opening game and never wining a live televised game, is another matter entirely.
Our opponents on Saturday are Millwall FC who have demonstrated a large measure of consistency and are tipped by some for promotion as champions. The Bermondsey side are not the team the Saints would have picked for the season’s curtain raiser, but surely even our most pessimistic fans must be glad we are able to start the season in the Football league, no matter what the level.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Come On Your Saints!
Fri Aug 7 17:08:51 UTC+0100 2009
Photo: BBC.co.uk/PA
SAINTS OFF THE MARK
“THREE well-executed goals exemplified the clinical ability of Alan Pardew's Southampton as they dispensed with Hearts in a pre-season friendly of few clear chances. Neither side displayed any true invention in midfield, the difference being that the hosts maximised their attacks and overall looked more competent upfront”.
Not the words of the Exiled Saint, but those of Barry Anderson in Monday’s Scotsman. To my chagrin I choose to attend the Saints first home friendly game against Ajax Amsterdam, instead of witnessing the Saints’ first win since Easter Monday last. After such a dearth of wins, the St Mary’s faithful must have been beside themselves with ecstasy. And deservedly so, for not only have they at long last got off the mark but apparently did so in some style for their new coach, Alan Pardew.
This is still very early days and this was only a pre-season friendly fixture, but nonetheless, it’s very satisfying and surely must deny even the most pessimistic Saints supporter of an excuse not to smile. Even just a little!
According to reports Adam Lallana opened the scoring when he seemingly meandered in to collect a pass from Stern John and then calmly dispatched a low shot past the Hearts’ keeper from about twenty metres.
There appears to be some dispute as to who was the provider of the Saints’ second goal. According to the Club’s official website, goal scorer Lallana had a hand in making it number two, when from a free kick he whipped in a cross for substitute Grzegorz Rasiak to score from close range. However, the Scotsman reporter credits Saints newcomer, Dan Harding with a “swirling” free kick. No matter as long as it counts!
However, both sources agree that Rasiak’s second goal and Saints’ decider originated from a well weighted cross from Scottish internationalist Graeme Murty who is still on trial at Southampton. From what we saw of Murty at last week’s game against Ajax, let’s hope he becomes a permanent part of the new Saints’ set-up.
On a final note, the Club’s new management have still to refurbish the players entrance at St Mary’s, I just wonder if having large framed photographs of former Hearts cult figure Rudi Skacel affected our visitors. Former Saints’ manager George Burley, previously of Hearts, signed Skacel from the Tynecastle club about four years ago, just after he made his famous 15 pre-Christmas goal rush.
Next up is our final pre-season friendly against west Londoners, Queen’s Park Rangers.
Paddy Browne,
The Exiled Saint
Photo: The Scotsman
Mon Jul 27 18:13:43 UTC+0100 2009
COYS!
New Beginings
Some fans at Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Ajax were firm in their belief that the Saints would beat the Amsterdam team. The Exiled Saint was not one of them.
However, apart from wanting to see one of Holland’s top football sides, like most supporters I was curious to see and welcome the club’s new owner Markus Liebherr, and our newly appointed manager, Alan Pardew.
Although the result was predictable enough both owner and coach were treated to some hopeful vignettes from the home side. It was good to see the reliable Wayne Thomas back after such a long spell on the injured list, Joseph Mills’ debut goal for the first team was a delight and the effervescent Gillett worked hard in the midfield throughout the match. However, caretaker coach Stuart Henderson’s decision to play a 4-5-1 defensive formation provided little by way ammunition for front man Rasiak.
Ajax; themselves undergoing a period of transition under the guidance of former Spurs manager, Martain Jol, provided a visual treat with their accurate and silky passing. Their ability to open up the Saints defence seemingly with just a couple of moves was impressive. Captain Luis Suarez’s second goal was a master class in composure and although it was the second half before Dennis Rommedahl made his appearance, it was well worth the wait.
It didn’t help to be reminded that less than a year ago our young side were playing in a similar style, but without converting their chances. Perhaps we shouldn’t dwell on what might have been.
It would be fair to say that Alan Pardew’s appointment took most of the fans by surprise. Few can doubt his pedigree of taking struggling clubs on to higher plane. His work with our near neighbours, Reading, is well documented. He took them to a promotion playoff final defeat in 2001 before consolidating his managerial skills by guiding them to the top tier in an automatic promotion spot in 2002.
Alan Pardew has a reputation for steely tenacity coupled with a desire to win which inevitably comes from lessons learned in the school of hard knocks. His playing career could hardly be said to be meteoric having played most of his football in semi-professional leagues. It’s reported that he was about to give up hope of ever playing professionally when he was recruited by Crystal Palace aged twenty-five. With the Eagles he went on to win promotion and collected a FA Cup Finalist medal, before later playing for Spurs, Reading and Barnet. It was at non-league Barnet that he took up coaching.
Mr Pardew’s successful, no-nonsense and single-minded approach to football management has not been without controversies. He departed Reading under very strained circumstances and his frank and sometimes unfortunate outbursts, has led having to make some well deserved apologies. It can also be argued that his perception of never being at fault can appear ungracious. His success at West Ham was marred by his involvement, albeit minor, in the Mascherino/Tevez affair, the source of a long legal action that is still the matter contention.
After the Saints’ woeful performance last season and our recent near-death experience, it is perhaps time we had a manager whose determination, leadership and meticulous preparation can help inculcate the desire to succeed in a side so lacking in confidence. In this respect, Alan Pardew appears to fit the bill.
He can be in no doubt as to the formidable task ahead of him and whilst he may not have been the fan’s immediate choice of coach, nevertheless we must not only allow him the time and space to get on with that mission but give him and his new team their full support.
Nothing can ever be taken for granted in football. But attention to detail, proper preparation allied to sheer hard work has always paid dividends. Alan Pardew may just be the manager that the Saints have needed for some time.
Next up is another pre-season friendly, this time against Hearts of Midlothian of the Scottish Premier League. Let’s hope our new manager can surprise our Tynecastle visitors.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Photos: Paddy Browne & Yahoo!/PA
Mon Jul 20 20:47:17 UTC+0100 2009
COME IN NUMBER ELEVEN!
The non-football fan would find difficult to understand just how stressful the roller coaster of the last few months has been for supporters, as we waited for the Saints to find their new owner. Thank heavens it’s all over now and we have time to take a breath while we wait for Mr. Liebherr to finalise his boardroom set-up.
After enduring nearly one hundred days of anxiety and suspense, once the agreement was made with Administrator, the actually purchasing of Southampton FC seemed to take very little time and appeared an effortless exercise. Nevertheless, even as we were celebrating our deliverance there was a sting in the tail.
Within twenty-four hours of the purchase the new owners dismissed Team Coach Mark Wotte. Even seasoned Saints’ fans, long used to swift managerial changes, were taken by surprise. All the more so as we had heard Mark at one o’clock, in a BBC regional news programme, praise the new owners and speak confidently of remaining with the club. By five o’clock the same day we learned of his dismissal. Only a couple of weeks earlier we understood from the local media that Mark had been issued with a new contract. 
Of course Mark Wotte may not have been the right manager to bring the team on in our present situation, and of course it is entirely understandable that the new owner would want to make a clean break with the past, and of course we are to suppose that Mark will have received financial, BUT, the whole episode seems a little hasty and also unsavoury.
We now wait to see who is to take on the Herculean task. It will be the Saints’ eleventh manager since 2000.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
(Photo: Yahoo!/PA)
Mon Jul 13 19:03:51 UTC+0100 2009
NIGHTMARE OVER AT LAST!
For almost one hundred nights we Saints’ fans have endured what has been nothing short of one long, tossing and turning chaotic nightmare from which there seemed no escape. Every morning we woke up bedraggled and exhausted knowing that when we closed our eyes we would find ourselves once again in a Kafkaesque version of Ground Hog Day.
Traditionally, the football season in the UK comes to an end once the English and Scottish FA Cup Finals are concluded. The following couple of months is the close season and there is little or nothing for the fan to do. The players take their long anticipated and hopefully deserved holidays, grounds are refurbished and pitches re-laid. Unless there are international cup competitions scheduled this can be a barren and dormant time even for the avid football fan. The more levelheaded will either take their holidays or find some other sporting activity and rejoin the so-called world of normal people for the duration.
If your team has been successfully promoted, then it’s a time for pouring over maps planning trips to away games and looking forward to new venues whilst all the time impatiently awaiting the publication of next season’s fixture list. And there is always the player’s transfer market with its gossip and rumours to discuss over a summer pint. Throughout this somnolent phase the sensible football supporter relaxes a little, watching a bit of cricket to recharges the batteries until it’s time for the pre-season friendlies.
None of the above applies to Saints’ supporters; this close season has been a living hell, largely because we couldn’t see an end to it.
It was disheartening enough not maintaining our place in the Championship, but as a consequence of the Club’s parent company, Southampton Leisure Holdings, being forced into Administration, (similar to Chapter Eleven for our American supporters); we will begin next season with a ten-point deficit.
Then came the inevitable recriminations, with sections of our once united fan-base locked into the inevitable blame game. And my, didn’t we have a rich and varied selection from which to choose our Judas goat. Most of the vitriol was reserved for the former club chairman Rupert Lowe. As Mr Lowe comes from a different socio-economic background than most of the fans, he was easily the popular choice.
However, when the Club’s finances were “forensically” examined it soon became clear that his predecessors were far from innocent as their period of office covered some rash investments, lavish spending on players and emoluments for board members. When all this was coupled to a sharp drop in attendances along with an unexpectedly deep financial recession, unless a suitable buyer could be found, it spelt the end of our once great club.
Then by mid summer, most of the spleen had been vented and the less bitter and more sober of our supporters realised the seriousness of the situation.
The recrimination period now gave way to the speculative stage of the saga. Rumours were rife and fanciful as the Saints’ White Knights ranged from Bill Gates, (well it wouldn’t be a proper rumour until the Microsoft billionaire’s private jet was seen parked at Eastleigh Airport!), to a builders gang (all true Saints’ fans) who had just won € 35 million on the Euro Lotto.
Stars and legends of bygone days were wheeled out to proclaim their resolve and the steadfastness of their support for Southampton FC. To be sure some of the previously bitter boardroom dug deep into their private funds and urged all to help prevent this “Grand Old Club” from extinction. As worse followed bad these funds at least helped the Administrator pay the staff salaries.
Then, the Pinnacle Group, a leading bidder, headed by the former Saint’s player and hero, Matt Le Tissier having put up the requisite funds were granted a period of exclusivity lasting 21 days. The group appeared not only keen and ready to press ahead but were a popular choice. However as the period was about to expire and it seem a deal was all but confirmed, there appeared to be some confusion as to whether the group was fully aware of the governing body’s stricture in that they may not challenge the ten point start of season penalty.
Chaos again! This time the other bidders, who had been excluded by Pinnacle’s action, decided, one by one, to loose interest but were replaced by others. Deadlines came and went, players were sold, celebrity managers were “seen” entering former Director’s homes and a period of despondency overcame the fans. Would it ever end?
As often happens in the scheme of things, after the Pinnacle Group’s offer had been finally discarded, and it finally looked as if the Saints were to be refused a playing licence, three major buyers emerged.
A Swiss engineering group with connections to the Port of Southampton; an established sports finance group led by an experienced negotiator, and last but most worryingly, a self confessed football club asset stripper, John Batchelor.
Needless to say the latter’s interest caused nothing short of panic amongst those fans now were only too aware of Mr Batchelor’s record. This surely was the darkest of dark hours for Saints’ fans.
This was last week and as a former Primer Minister once commented, “ A week’s a long time in politics”. And how true it was to be.
Just after noon today, 8 July 2009, Mr Markus Leibherr, a Swiss industrialist, transferred £13m to the Administrator and became the new owner of Southampton Football Club.
Mr Leibherr will shortly install his CEO and board of directors.
The Exiled Saint wishes Herr Leibherr, “Willkommen und Zum Gluck”!
The nightmare is over at last. We open that bottle of champagne that’s been on ice these last months. It was meant to celebrate our success in staying in the Championship. But that was light years ago!
Now our work begins… Supporting the Saints!
Come On You Saints.
The Exiled Saint.
(Photo: Yahoo!/PA)
Wed Jul 8 19:07:27 UTC+0100 2009
