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Scunthorpe's Nigel Adkins says Southampton's Nicola Cortese has big decision to make

Nigel Adkins Nigel Adkins

RED-HOT favourite for the Saints job Nigel Adkins has admitted Nicola Cortese has "an important decision to make" regarding Alan Pardew’s replacement.

Bookies have started suspending betting on the Scunthorpe boss being appointed at St Mary’s, and it has been reported that the 45-year-old has opened talks on the south coast.

Yesterday, the Iron manager was taking training at Scunthorpe as usual.

But an appointment is expected at St Mary’s this week and Adkins is the red-hot favourite to become Pardew’s successor.

As an intelligent, up-and-coming boss, with a record of success already, Adkins fits the bill for what Saints are understood to be looking for.

While Adkins is still remaining coy on the speculation, he hinted that Saints are a club that would suit him.

"I am sure Southampton are actively looking to appoint a new manager as quickly as they can,” he said.

"Dean Wilkins has been put in temporary charge. He is a safe pair of hands – a similar situation I was in when Brian (Laws) left Scunthorpe.

"I am sure there have been plenty of applications for the role and a lot of highly thought of people who have applied for the job.

"You look at the history of the club and fan base they have got.

"They are in their 125th season now.

"You look at the stadium and the ambition of where they want to go.

"As a club they suffered financially by going into administration.

"New owners are in there now and will want to try and keep Southampton Football Club moving forward.

"They will want to get back to the Championship as soon as possible.

"That is the obvious link with me because we have been promoted twice from the division Southampton now find themselves in.

"The chairman there now has an important decision to make."

Comments(101)

SFC4EVA!! says...
10:34am Wed 8 Sep 10

Looks like the echo have taken my link that was published in the Scunthorpe paper!! - do us a favour ECHO and report on facts NOT rumours!!!

Bwana23 says...
10:37am Wed 8 Sep 10

Forget the rumours, some facts would be appreciated.

Norwegian Saint says...
10:39am Wed 8 Sep 10

Hmmmm, wish it was O'Neill but think thats a long shot. Is this Adkins any better than Pardew?
One thing is for sure, we need a new man very soon.

redsnapper says...
10:40am Wed 8 Sep 10

I can't help thinking that our players and our club, need a real high profile, kick arse type of manager to inspire them to the heights they are well capable of, and a man who is big enough to resist interference from the likes of Les Reed.

STRACHAN was the best in recent years

SFC4EVA!! says...
10:41am Wed 8 Sep 10

O'Neill has reportedly signed a 3 yr lease on a house in Winchester - came from a close source who has links with the Stadium.... Will give more details when I hear more

JimmyLondon says...
10:43am Wed 8 Sep 10

I am sure he is a good manager, i am just not convinced in his ability to either attract big loan or perminent signings and alos handle a big talented squad like southamptons. Also when he comes up against better managers i.e championship and onwards is he tactically good enough or experienced enough!

i am a little worried.

Norwegian Saint says...
10:46am Wed 8 Sep 10

Just read the Wiki page on Adkins, not too impressed, OK at league 1 level but not so good in Championship. At least he is a qualified physio that could help Lallana!

MitchellT says...
10:46am Wed 8 Sep 10

I just heard from a reliable source that O'Neil was seen meditating in the New Forest this morning wearing a Saints shirt; has to be a sign surely!

Offthebench says...
10:49am Wed 8 Sep 10

Must be Adkins most others don't have jobs so I would have thought they would have been in place by now. He's not my choice but there we go. If he gets the job I hope everyone gets behind him and let's him get on with it. However I imagine it will be a rocky road.

nicola cortese is god says...
10:50am Wed 8 Sep 10

Jog on adkins!!!!
not wanted.
tony pulis or phil brown woulkd be ideal.
billy davies would be better than this northern monkey.

saintsayer says...
10:52am Wed 8 Sep 10

JimmyLondon wrote:
I am sure he is a good manager, i am just not convinced in his ability to either attract big loan or perminent signings and alos handle a big talented squad like southamptons. Also when he comes up against better managers i.e championship and onwards is he tactically good enough or experienced enough! i am a little worried.
He got relegated with Scunny the first time he took them up but they are sitting quite well in the championship so far this season so perhaps he has learnt a lesson Just think we need someone to-day if he is going to be able to influence saturdays game

TUNA_MAN says...
10:52am Wed 8 Sep 10

OMG people who think o'neill was ever going to join saints need a good examining,He is a big time charlie who acctually never wins anything apart from scottish cups,This ain't scotland its england nigel adkins is my favourite out of everyone mentioned.

Tank Johnson says...
10:52am Wed 8 Sep 10

Oneil would get us up this season,so would someone like Ince,Adkins will need a season or two..

NC eat some humble pie shock the football world, sack Les Reid and re-install AP.....ASAP..

Red n White says...
10:52am Wed 8 Sep 10

From the way Middlesbrough have started I don't think Strachan will last much longer. Maybe NC is waiting for Strachan to get the sack and then make a move for him? Mowbray would be my first choice - surprised he's not been mentioned much

nicola cortese is god says...
10:54am Wed 8 Sep 10

Offthebench wrote:
Must be Adkins most others don't have jobs so I would have thought they would have been in place by now. He's not my choice but there we go. If he gets the job I hope everyone gets behind him and let's him get on with it. However I imagine it will be a rocky road.
the problem is.fans will not give adkins time.that is a fact.
we have to get promoted this season.no excuses.
so if we lose a few he will get booed.
we need a high profile tough boss like phil brown.he has been there and done it.please cortese do not get this chump.

wheresthemoneygone says...
10:54am Wed 8 Sep 10

Couple of comedians,eh, 'MitchellT' and 'Nicola Cortese is god' : are you doing any stand-up in the Southampton area in the future, let the real supporters know, we can come along.

Littleton-Saint says...
10:57am Wed 8 Sep 10

Whoever lands the job will have problems if Pardew didn't want Guly do Prado and Les Reed and Cortese interfere in first team matters. The European set-up has been tried by Lowe before when Woodward was appointed Director of Football. It made us a non-performing laughing-stock, which is what we are right now under Cortese, who doesn't know a thing about football. Les Reed's credentials don't exactly light the town up either.
History looks like it's repeating itself at SMS.

Norfolk Saint says...
10:58am Wed 8 Sep 10

NC have you read Adkins CV ; this does not compliment the " so called vision " you have for the Saints ; please put us out of our misery by confessing this is one route you are not pursuing

RealTalkMuhFuggas says...
11:00am Wed 8 Sep 10

I don't think it is him! That article doesn't hint at anything! I'd prefer Brown!

I reckon it will be Leonardo, that would be the 'wow' factor for me too! He's got the Italian link, le tissier's mate and he's not really been mentioned. It will be someone that isn't bookies favourite! We all know how good NC is at working under the radar!

st waggy says...
11:02am Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
Offthebench wrote: Must be Adkins most others don't have jobs so I would have thought they would have been in place by now. He's not my choice but there we go. If he gets the job I hope everyone gets behind him and let's him get on with it. However I imagine it will be a rocky road.
the problem is.fans will not give adkins time.that is a fact. we have to get promoted this season.no excuses. so if we lose a few he will get booed. we need a high profile tough boss like phil brown.he has been there and done it.please cortese do not get this chump.
are you nick illingsworth in disguise? Since when do you represent the majority of saints fans. you are either a sk8 on a wind up or you read too many threads on so called 'fan representative' forums.

lambo83 says...
11:03am Wed 8 Sep 10

IF Martin O'Neil relly is on the radar then Cortese has no decision to make....

HURRY IT UP THE WAIT IS KILLING ME

7saint7 says...
11:03am Wed 8 Sep 10

hope not same as brown both not as good as AP.

Tank Johnson says...
11:04am Wed 8 Sep 10

Give Sven a one year rolling contract ffs at least we`d get promoted

nicola cortese is god says...
11:05am Wed 8 Sep 10

phil brown..tony mowbray..tony pulis....billy davies......martin o neill...leonardo....
over such high profile names!!!not nigel adkins!!cortese you are heading for a fans backlash mate.

Sainty saint saint says...
11:07am Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
Offthebench wrote:
Must be Adkins most others don't have jobs so I would have thought they would have been in place by now. He's not my choice but there we go. If he gets the job I hope everyone gets behind him and let's him get on with it. However I imagine it will be a rocky road.
the problem is.fans will not give adkins time.that is a fact.
we have to get promoted this season.no excuses.
so if we lose a few he will get booed.
we need a high profile tough boss like phil brown.he has been there and done it.please cortese do not get this chump.
I would LOVE to see you eat your words and be cheering Adkins' name from the terraces - trouble is I don't think you'd ever be satisfied even if he got us winning.

Sainty saint saint says...
11:11am Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
phil brown..tony mowbray..tony pulis....billy davies......martin o neill...leonardo....

over such high profile names!!!not nigel adkins!!cortese you are heading for a fans backlash mate.
NO HE IS NOT.
Most of us will support the decision - don't you dare speak for real fans. SHUT UP.

Littleton-Saint says...
11:19am Wed 8 Sep 10

Would any of the prospective candidates mentioned on here really want Cortese's European-style set-up?

I guess the one who shows the most enthusiasm for it will get the job.

crusti says...
11:26am Wed 8 Sep 10

who ever gets the job, should be given 1 yrs grace this season, maybe not promotion but atleast top ten, its gonna take a while to get to know the team properly.
we all know some players will be out to impress then ease up a bit when they feel they are theyve done enough.

i would have prefered a bigger name, but big names do not guantee success over night, if at all

whoever get the position has my best wishes and we should all get behind him

RealTalkMuhFuggas says...
11:29am Wed 8 Sep 10

Sainty saint saint wrote:
nicola cortese is god wrote:
phil brown..tony mowbray..tony pulis....billy davies......martin o neill...leonardo....


over such high profile names!!!not nigel adkins!!cortese you are heading for a fans backlash mate.
NO HE IS NOT.
Most of us will support the decision - don't you dare speak for real fans. SHUT UP.
I think he's right! What happens if the players don't respond like they haven't all this season and pre-season, and we do lose a few games?? I can't see everyone being pleased, after the sacking of Pardew AND if we still lose matches. Would u be?? It will have to be someone high profile just to cover NC's ar5e! I know we're only in league 1 but we need someone bigger to lift everyone involved with the club! Adkins is not the guy. Why do so many old saints fans always just want the minimal instead of wanting more. C'mon aim higher!! Sven went to Notts County last year for fcuk sake!

fred the red says...
11:33am Wed 8 Sep 10

This article, if it is to be taken on face value, suggests he is talking himself into the job.

Lots of hype, but that does not necessarily make him the best man.

Seems like a guy who will do whatever NC tells him!

Dickosfc says...
11:35am Wed 8 Sep 10

Some Saints fans need to wined their necks in and realise who we actually are. We're a 3rd tier team with a good stadium and fans that boo their team at every opportunity. It really is embarrassing. Who went to Leeds away?? You didn't see them booing their team when we was beating them you didn't see them call for their chairmen to be hung drawn and quartered when they appointed Simon Grayson and not a big name, NO they stuck with the team that they love!! You call Cortese a c*nt in your CAPITAL LETTERS but yet you don't have any facts and/or evidence to support your claims. Some of you couldn't put a coherent argument if your life depended on it. I can't believe the level of arrogance! I really hope we do get O'Neill but I don't believe we have a divine right. Support your F*CKING TEAM.... If I get any replies on the lines of - "how can we support our team when its run by a dictator in Cortese" Bluh bluh bluh . Give me some bloody facts

JohnItaly says...
11:36am Wed 8 Sep 10

MitchellT wrote:
I just heard from a reliable source that O'Neil was seen meditating in the New Forest this morning wearing a Saints shirt; has to be a sign surely!
A sign somebody should probably have gone to Specsavers!!

allsaintsnocurves says...
11:36am Wed 8 Sep 10

Whoever the new manager is Saints fans need to get behind him...this decision will not have been taken lightly by Reed and Cortese so we have to back their judgement. We don't even really know if O'Neil is in the frame so it's pointless speculating. He's proven in this division and that's what matters right now...If he doesn't do very well in the Championship we cross that bridge then...the infrastructure of the club with Reed and the coaches underneath Cortese are in place so the position of manager can be changed far easier if they don't get the right results...not that we want to see this changed regularly...but we might need to be in the Championship/Premier
ship to attract the sort of managers who have been linked to Saints.

I just want to see us start winning games and consistently!

HarryMonk says...
11:40am Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
Jog on adkins!!!! not wanted. tony pulis or phil brown woulkd be ideal. billy davies would be better than this northern monkey.
Get a GRIP!!!

Sainty saint saint says...
11:42am Wed 8 Sep 10

RealTalkMuhFuggas wrote:
Sainty saint saint wrote:
nicola cortese is god wrote:
phil brown..tony mowbray..tony pulis....billy davies......martin o neill...leonardo....



over such high profile names!!!not nigel adkins!!cortese you are heading for a fans backlash mate.
NO HE IS NOT.
Most of us will support the decision - don't you dare speak for real fans. SHUT UP.
I think he's right! What happens if the players don't respond like they haven't all this season and pre-season, and we do lose a few games?? I can't see everyone being pleased, after the sacking of Pardew AND if we still lose matches. Would u be?? It will have to be someone high profile just to cover NC's ar5e! I know we're only in league 1 but we need someone bigger to lift everyone involved with the club! Adkins is not the guy. Why do so many old saints fans always just want the minimal instead of wanting more. C'mon aim higher!! Sven went to Notts County last year for fcuk sake!
Hey - less of the 'old' thanks!

I won't be pleased if we continue to lose, no, but I sure as s**t won't be complaining about it by booing the Chairman or the Manager after two months... I'll be supprting my team and hoping for a positive turn-around.

RomseySaintNick says...
11:47am Wed 8 Sep 10

I know this is off the subject but all the specualtion gets boring after a while so just a thought on our Team/squad. I am not convinced that we are actually stronger than last season! I cannot help feeling that we are missing Antonio and Papa Waigo far more than many would think. Yet again this season we are failing to break down average sides and both of those players were great as impact subs. They brough pace to the game and were always doing the unexpected. Antonio had an eye for goal as well. I for one would be delighted to see him back in a Saints shirt, whoever was the manager! Interesting that security code for this post is team-wing!!!!!

Redrobbo says...
11:48am Wed 8 Sep 10

I am staggered by the 'Cortese knows nothing about football comments' , as if anyone on here could claim to be qualified to run a professional football club. I do not agree with some of his decision making, the photographers ban, the non phasing of ST payments, no half season tickets. With the sacking of Pardew, I personally find it difficult to accept it was for footballing reasons or simply because he didn't like Pardew. In either case I feel sure we would have had a replacement manager ready to walk straight through the door. So the rumours of gross misconduct to me seem more likely.
The silence from both sides is not surprising because either a payment was made in exchange for a confidentiality agreement, or both sides are taking legal counsel.
Whether you take the view that NC is a reincarnantion of the dark load, or whether you are prepared to accept his hard nosed approach to running SFC. the fact is that without his input we would have been out of business and watching a reincarnation of SFC palying the likes of Salisbury.
We have started the season very poorly, the last two performances were no better or no worse that Orient and Argyle. The only decent result we have all season was at Bristol Rovers.
Keep the faith, if we win out game in hand(I know it is a big if at the moment) we will be 3 points behind the leaders.
We will win the League because we will bring in players on loan, and we already have the strongest squad(albeit a couple light from last year) in this Division. Form is temporary, class is permanent and we have more class players at this level than any other club.The other players need to start believing that they can win when Ricky and Adam are injured or out of sorts.
With the squad we have a chimpanzee in a suit should be able to manage us out of this Division. So while a high profile manager would be great then equally I would be prepared to judge whoever comes in on results.The new manager will know the structure before he comes in so there can be no argument about being undermined.managemen
t by committee is a dangerous strategy, that said if everyone knows their area of responsibility and gets on with the job then as long as the first team coach does not get players brought that he does not fancy and is let to get on coaching and picking the team then whats the problem.
Does anyone think that in this day and age any manager has a free hand from top to bottom of a club including the transfer policy.

SaintyD says...
11:51am Wed 8 Sep 10

Littleton-Saint wrote:
Whoever lands the job will have problems if Pardew didn't want Guly do Prado and Les Reed and Cortese interfere in first team matters. The European set-up has been tried by Lowe before when Woodward was appointed Director of Football. It made us a non-performing laughing-stock, which is what we are right now under Cortese, who doesn't know a thing about football. Les Reed's credentials don't exactly light the town up either. History looks like it's repeating itself at SMS.
Totally agree. History repeating. Get a manager in and let him get on with being a manager, not a coach.

calumjsaint says...
11:55am Wed 8 Sep 10

dont be fooled by this story. MON has just leased a house in winchester for 3 years!! fact!!

Sainted Aunt says...
12:06pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Apparently Ron Atkinson picked up at airport and on way to SMS this morning!! Paul Lambert coming in on 3 year deal are the rumours in Norwich!! It never ends!! I must stop googling and do some work!

Cult Hero says...
12:08pm Wed 8 Sep 10

This is a disaster! This guy will see us relegated. Its got to be Phil Brown over this guy, surely.

RealTalkMuhFuggas says...
12:14pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Sainty saint saint wrote:
RealTalkMuhFuggas wrote:
Sainty saint saint wrote:
nicola cortese is god wrote:
phil brown..tony mowbray..tony pulis....billy davies......martin o neill...leonardo....




over such high profile names!!!not nigel adkins!!cortese you are heading for a fans backlash mate.
NO HE IS NOT.
Most of us will support the decision - don't you dare speak for real fans. SHUT UP.
I think he's right! What happens if the players don't respond like they haven't all this season and pre-season, and we do lose a few games?? I can't see everyone being pleased, after the sacking of Pardew AND if we still lose matches. Would u be?? It will have to be someone high profile just to cover NC's ar5e! I know we're only in league 1 but we need someone bigger to lift everyone involved with the club! Adkins is not the guy. Why do so many old saints fans always just want the minimal instead of wanting more. C'mon aim higher!! Sven went to Notts County last year for fcuk sake!
Hey - less of the 'old' thanks!

I won't be pleased if we continue to lose, no, but I sure as s**t won't be complaining about it by booing the Chairman or the Manager after two months... I'll be supprting my team and hoping for a positive turn-around.
lol sorry bout the old but it's true! Most of the 'younger' fans are too impatient.

Older fans (who you speak for) are willing to wait in hope. But others see it as we don't have to wait or hope, just get the best manager you can, first time!

I personally don't care who comes in as long as they get the team playing to their potential.

NC will have a backlash if someone like Adkins comes in and doesn't deliver. It's a certainty. I think you're a bit naive to think otherwise.

SotonSaint1885 says...
12:14pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Me I'm guilty as any supporter/fan wanting a big name manager for my club.I've spent last few days looking through the chats on forums.
Then it dawned on me we have got the next big name manager in charge of the Saints now.So get behind Wilkins and the players you never know in 2 seasons time clubs be link to Wilkins.Look how Adkins started and saints got linked to him.
O'neil started at Wycombe all big name managers got to start somewhere

Rushden says...
12:16pm Wed 8 Sep 10

As a Scunny fan the last thing I want is for Adkins to leave but I have to laugh at some of your comments.
Adkins got us promoted twice from Division 1 at a club with average attendances of 5000 to 6000 and is in the profit! (not many clubs have that on their CV).
He has had to deal with losing his best players as they are sold for vast profits and starting again with a raw unknown who invariably steps up to the mark.
To be honest he must be off his rocker if he signs for you lot, what is it 11 managers in 10 years or something like that. Not very stable is it?

Saint Bean says...
12:17pm Wed 8 Sep 10

calumjsaint wrote:
dont be fooled by this story. MON has just leased a house in winchester for 3 years!! fact!!
Hope your right MON would be good. Clearly not a holiday retreat then

RealTalkMuhFuggas says...
12:19pm Wed 8 Sep 10

RomseySaintNick wrote:
I know this is off the subject but all the specualtion gets boring after a while so just a thought on our Team/squad. I am not convinced that we are actually stronger than last season! I cannot help feeling that we are missing Antonio and Papa Waigo far more than many would think. Yet again this season we are failing to break down average sides and both of those players were great as impact subs. They brough pace to the game and were always doing the unexpected. Antonio had an eye for goal as well. I for one would be delighted to see him back in a Saints shirt, whoever was the manager! Interesting that security code for this post is team-wing!!!!!
Where have you been hiding?? We've debated about this long ago! Some of the AP hate started from the lack of no signings upfront or wing.. We have (fact) got a weaker team.

leosaint says...
12:20pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Isn´t technology wonderful, we can all be experts and have our thoughts published. Here is my thought back in 1957 before technology was invented Saints were in the old 3rd division srruggling in mid table managed by a young unknown who was in desperate need of a striker however the club had no money,so he went to the supporters club and they lent him £1000 to buy Jimmy Shilds from Sunderland who of course became an instant hero scored goals moved us up the table got injured and never played again. My point is the supporters didn´t boo the young manager they supported him and eventually he became very good at his job,his name Ted Bates. I have only one question ,Where would Saints be today if he had some of the so called supporters on this site who think they are experts calling for his blood?

Cult Hero says...
12:20pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Sainted Aunt wrote:
Apparently Ron Atkinson picked up at airport and on way to SMS this morning!! Paul Lambert coming in on 3 year deal are the rumours in Norwich!! It never ends!! I must stop googling and do some work!
Ron's plans are said to include shipping out Jaidi, Chamberlin and Puncheon.

legod7 says...
12:21pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Redrobbo wrote:
I am staggered by the 'Cortese knows nothing about football comments' , as if anyone on here could claim to be qualified to run a professional football club. I do not agree with some of his decision making, the photographers ban, the non phasing of ST payments, no half season tickets. With the sacking of Pardew, I personally find it difficult to accept it was for footballing reasons or simply because he didn't like Pardew. In either case I feel sure we would have had a replacement manager ready to walk straight through the door. So the rumours of gross misconduct to me seem more likely. The silence from both sides is not surprising because either a payment was made in exchange for a confidentiality agreement, or both sides are taking legal counsel. Whether you take the view that NC is a reincarnantion of the dark load, or whether you are prepared to accept his hard nosed approach to running SFC. the fact is that without his input we would have been out of business and watching a reincarnation of SFC palying the likes of Salisbury. We have started the season very poorly, the last two performances were no better or no worse that Orient and Argyle. The only decent result we have all season was at Bristol Rovers. Keep the faith, if we win out game in hand(I know it is a big if at the moment) we will be 3 points behind the leaders. We will win the League because we will bring in players on loan, and we already have the strongest squad(albeit a couple light from last year) in this Division. Form is temporary, class is permanent and we have more class players at this level than any other club.The other players need to start believing that they can win when Ricky and Adam are injured or out of sorts. With the squad we have a chimpanzee in a suit should be able to manage us out of this Division. So while a high profile manager would be great then equally I would be prepared to judge whoever comes in on results.The new manager will know the structure before he comes in so there can be no argument about being undermined.managemen t by committee is a dangerous strategy, that said if everyone knows their area of responsibility and gets on with the job then as long as the first team coach does not get players brought that he does not fancy and is let to get on coaching and picking the team then whats the problem. Does anyone think that in this day and age any manager has a free hand from top to bottom of a club including the transfer policy.
Best post by far today.
So far since the takeover we have seen the appointment of Alan Padew and all the background staff,including Les Reed and Martin Hunter.
If we are led to believe that AP was sacked for non-football reasons then only ONE cog in the wheel needs replacing. That is of 1st team coach.
So why,oh why do we need a "high profile" manager.All we need is someone who can hopefully get promotion this season.
Nobody had even heard of Nigel Adkins until he was one of front runners for the job.Look at what he did at Scunthorpe on a very limited budget.
Most the posters on here don't want him because they have never heard of him. Grow up and back whoever is appointed.After all be are all supposed to be Saints supporters

UTS says...
12:24pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Cortese has spoken to Oneil. But as you would expect Oneil wants full control on player ins/outs. He doesnt want to play second fiddle to a nobody like Les Reed either. The same goes for Curbishley.

SotonSaint1885 says...
12:25pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Cortese knows nowt bout running a football club. try doing some research and read into what you can.

Saint says no to Milan

If the club you own are the six-times European champions and you are looking for someone to join their board, sounding out the man who runs a club in the English League One would not normally be the first port of call. But that is precisely what appears to have occurred to the Milan owner and Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, pictured. Nicola Cortese, Southampton's chairman, was recently approached by a representative for Berlusconi informing him of that gilded club's interest in taking him on. It is strongly possible that the contact was made on the recommendation of Giancarlo Giorgetti, an influential member of Berlusconi's Northern League party who just so happens to be a massive Saints fan. Just don't ask Digger why that is. But Cortese is understood to have declined the approach, favouring his current employment where he enjoys an adamantine relationship with the club's billionaire owner, Marcus Liebherr.

Pasted from Guardian

Southampton boy says...
12:28pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job.

If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it.

We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee

Harby says...
12:31pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Young, intelligent manager? How about Gareth Southgate.

allsaintsnocurves says...
12:34pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Saints need to get out of this division this season...Adkins has done it twice on a tiny budget! Saints need Adkins now and maybe he will do even better with better players and a higher budget and do what he did with Scunthorpe with Saints in the Championship! He could be the manager to get us back to back promotions...maybe a lower profile manager is what we need...the players will respect what he's done at Scunthorpe and he will know how to get results at the small stadiums in this division!! He has my full backing!! Southampton till I die!!

Cult Hero says...
12:38pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Harby wrote:
Young, intelligent manager? How about Gareth Southgate.
Ha ha ha ha, ah ha ha ha ha. Thanks havn't laughed that much for ages.

Red Duster says...
12:41pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Harby wrote:
Young, intelligent manager? How about Gareth Southgate.
He is young and intelligent, but a football manager? I think not.

SotonSaint1885 says...
12:43pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Look guys if we can all pull together and Cortese's got set up right even Anthony Pullis can manage the squad.

Red Duster says...
12:45pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Southampton boy wrote:
Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football.
Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what.
I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.

costa gaz says...
12:47pm Wed 8 Sep 10

NC is taking the "omerta" thing a bit too far.

Saint Bean says...
12:50pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Mmmm still no blurb on the OS they usually post some nothin stuff to keep us ocupied. Could be today we will hear me thinks.

St.Yorkie says...
12:51pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Under awed by the whole process of appointing a new Manager. Obviously not a planned dismissal but even so the expectations of the fans is high because we have been slow starting.

Samaritans were a great help last night - they told me to relax and watch England...no Terry, no Lampard and yet we played as a team - and Rooney scored too - putting pay to that old song "Score in a brothel".
Perhaps Wiulkins can learn from this - not the best 11-players - but the best team!

Jason D says...
12:53pm Wed 8 Sep 10

SaintyD wrote:
Littleton-Saint wrote:
Whoever lands the job will have problems if Pardew didn't want Guly do Prado and Les Reed and Cortese interfere in first team matters. The European set-up has been tried by Lowe before when Woodward was appointed Director of Football. It made us a non-performing laughing-stock, which is what we are right now under Cortese, who doesn't know a thing about football. Les Reed's credentials don't exactly light the town up either. History looks like it's repeating itself at SMS.
Totally agree. History repeating. Get a manager in and let him get on with being a manager, not a coach.
Yep, I don't believe you have to have a big name to be successful, but in this case I hope we get someone with a bit of attitude.

Anything else, Atkins included, suggests the chairman wants someone who will put up and shut up and is open to the ideas of others.

If Cortese goes for a smaller name, meaning a committee style structure even if he doesn't spin it like that, I fear we are indeed repeating lessons we should have learnt from in the past.

The only club Redknapp has failed at is ours and it is no coincidence this was the only club where he wasn't given full control.

It's a recipe for disaster.

Irate Wintonian says...
12:54pm Wed 8 Sep 10

calumjsaint wrote:
dont be fooled by this story. MON has just leased a house in winchester for 3 years!! fact!!
Winchester is an easy commute to London so maybe he is being lined up for Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea...take your pick of any London club.
.
Pure rumour founding outlandish speculation based on desire.

doversaint says...
1:01pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Just read this article in the Telegraph online, more 'fishing' or is this the real deal?

http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/sport/footbal
l/article-1309424/So
uthampton-line-Scunt
horpe-boss-Nigel-Adk
ins.html

Saint Bean says...
1:01pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Somethin tells me Brown or adkins havnt got it cus sky have both spoken to them and NC would want them to keep shtum.
I rekon we could be suprised after all nobody predicted AP

RealTalkMuhFuggas says...
1:03pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Adkins says he is "..totally focused on Scunthorpe United.."

http://www.skysports
.com/story/0,19528,1
1095_6364741,00.html


I don't think he's coming here.

Saint Bean says...
1:04pm Wed 8 Sep 10

doversaint wrote:
Just read this article in the Telegraph online, more 'fishing' or is this the real deal?

http://www.dailymail

.co.uk/sport/footbal

l/article-1309424/So

uthampton-line-Scunt

horpe-boss-Nigel-Adk

ins.html
Nothin we havnt heard

Sainty saint saint says...
1:08pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Rushden wrote:
As a Scunny fan the last thing I want is for Adkins to leave but I have to laugh at some of your comments.
Adkins got us promoted twice from Division 1 at a club with average attendances of 5000 to 6000 and is in the profit! (not many clubs have that on their CV).
He has had to deal with losing his best players as they are sold for vast profits and starting again with a raw unknown who invariably steps up to the mark.
To be honest he must be off his rocker if he signs for you lot, what is it 11 managers in 10 years or something like that. Not very stable is it?
Great post.
It turns out that it's not all football fans that are idiots, just a lot of the Saints fans!
This Scunny fan talks complete sense and I'd be honoured to have Adkins as our manager.

nicola cortese is god says...
1:11pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
stop banging on about being in the third teir you muppet!!!
people like you get on my tits.
two prem bosses have applied for this job.
phil brown is more qualified than adkins.this guys a joke.,cortese is now a joke.
not happy at all.
i have spoke to about 10 sth in the northam today and they are shocked at this move.he wont get given time by a lot of fans

Glenn(Leeds) says...
1:12pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Saint Bean wrote:
Somethin tells me Brown or adkins havnt got it cus sky have both spoken to them and NC would want them to keep shtum. I rekon we could be suprised after all nobody predicted AP
Good point

Cult Hero says...
1:15pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
Bore off will you.

nicola cortese is god says...
1:16pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Glenn(Leeds) wrote:
Saint Bean wrote: Somethin tells me Brown or adkins havnt got it cus sky have both spoken to them and NC would want them to keep shtum. I rekon we could be suprised after all nobody predicted AP
Good point
If there is such a thing as jesus christ i hope you are right mate.
please jesus christ let this fellow be right!
atkins diet.

Sainty saint saint says...
1:23pm Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
stop banging on about being in the third teir you muppet!!!
people like you get on my tits.
two prem bosses have applied for this job.
phil brown is more qualified than adkins.this guys a joke.,cortese is now a joke.
not happy at all.
i have spoke to about 10 sth in the northam today and they are shocked at this move.he wont get given time by a lot of fans
I think two premiership managers ALLEDGEDLY ENQUIRED, not applied - I can't find the article now but I'm sure it wasn't that they had applied...

Saint Cope says...
1:24pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Make it happen:
http://www.facebook.
com/pages/Martin-ONe
ill-for-Saints-Manag
er/114693878585203?r
ef=ts

Saint Jimmer says...
1:25pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Has any one thought of who the 2 prem managers could be? The name Roberto Di Matteo could be a possibility.

nicola cortese is god says...
1:27pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Saint Jimmer wrote:
Has any one thought of who the 2 prem managers could be? The name Roberto Di Matteo could be a possibility.
tony pulis.
he is from christchurch.arguing with the players and board right now.
surley to jesus christ we can get better than this chump?

Redrobbo says...
1:30pm Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
stop banging on about being in the third teir you muppet!!! people like you get on my tits. two prem bosses have applied for this job. phil brown is more qualified than adkins.this guys a joke.,cortese is now a joke. not happy at all. i have spoke to about 10 sth in the northam today and they are shocked at this move.he wont get given time by a lot of fans
Cortese is a joke. This is te same joke that saved the club you profess to love. There are many big name managers that get recycled around clubs.Some have made more money out of being sacked than being employed.You have to be a good manager to get promoted twice with a club like Scunny with little or no money. He has a pedigree at the level we find ourselves in. Forget the delusions of grandeur, we are currently a football club playing in the third tier of English football. I personally believe that Alan Pardew should have at the very least have got us into the play offs last year, you could argue that it was because he was not familar with the division in which we are in.The points we dropped against teams we should have beaten, the likes of Wycombe,Tranmere and Exeter all away to name but three. We failed to get promoted last year simply because we could not play League One football when it was needed, we could not and still can't win ugly.

HarryMonk says...
1:33pm Wed 8 Sep 10

nicola cortese is god wrote:
Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
stop banging on about being in the third teir you muppet!!! people like you get on my tits. two prem bosses have applied for this job. phil brown is more qualified than adkins.this guys a joke.,cortese is now a joke. not happy at all. i have spoke to about 10 sth in the northam today and they are shocked at this move.he wont get given time by a lot of fans
nicola cortese is god. You really need to have a look at yourself, so far today with all your CAPITAL LETTER rants and put downs.

I am affraid to burst your bubble but Jose is staying at Madrid.

Redrobbo says...
1:44pm Wed 8 Sep 10

HarryMonk wrote:
nicola cortese is god wrote:
Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
stop banging on about being in the third teir you muppet!!! people like you get on my tits. two prem bosses have applied for this job. phil brown is more qualified than adkins.this guys a joke.,cortese is now a joke. not happy at all. i have spoke to about 10 sth in the northam today and they are shocked at this move.he wont get given time by a lot of fans
nicola cortese is god. You really need to have a look at yourself, so far today with all your CAPITAL LETTER rants and put downs. I am affraid to burst your bubble but Jose is staying at Madrid.
Would not go so far as calling him a God.Think he needs a PR makeover.He does not endear himself to the fans and the press. The photographer farce and the ongoing spat with the Echo are real own goals, as is the removal of the phased payments for season tickets without notice. However, he comes from the very hard nosed world of finance, and I am also sure that there are some cultural differences that add to the situation. What amazes me is that people who could not run a Sunday Pub team feel that they are better placed to run a football club than someone who has worked his way to the top in industry.
The idea of fans on the board of SFC and fans trusts having an input into running a club the size of ours is a joke. This club got out of jail when Markus came along, yet here we are just over a year later with people seriously suggesting that Nicola Cortese should leave the club.
What planet are these people from.

mike saint says...
1:45pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Please, Please, Please Mr.Cortese dont take the wrong decision and appoint Nigel Adkins as manager. He is a little man from a little club with no expectations. Were a big club in a little league.

EM27, says...
1:46pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Nothing will be announced until the Echo has gone to print.

Saint Bean says...
1:46pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Redrobbo wrote:
HarryMonk wrote:
nicola cortese is god wrote:
Red Duster wrote:
Southampton boy wrote: Sorry he may be a good man but this is not the top fleight manager I was hoping for he is a AP look alike not that AP was doing anythin wrong that I know hard teh stories not sure how much is ture! would love to Martin down here he would take us to the top hhe would only stay until Man U nneeded a nnew manager as that is where his heart is but he could us a good job. If this is NNC idea of showig us fans his intentions then its nnot to get to the prem is it. We nneed a big name in this job to take this club to where we all would like it to be not a trainee
I hate to point this out, but we are in the third tier of English football. Why would O'Neil risk coming here? if he gets it wrong thats his CV messed up for the Man U job and if he succeeds people will say so what. I reckon Adkins will be a great appointment.
stop banging on about being in the third teir you muppet!!! people like you get on my tits. two prem bosses have applied for this job. phil brown is more qualified than adkins.this guys a joke.,cortese is now a joke. not happy at all. i have spoke to about 10 sth in the northam today and they are shocked at this move.he wont get given time by a lot of fans
nicola cortese is god. You really need to have a look at yourself, so far today with all your CAPITAL LETTER rants and put downs. I am affraid to burst your bubble but Jose is staying at Madrid.
Would not go so far as calling him a God.Think he needs a PR makeover.He does not endear himself to the fans and the press. The photographer farce and the ongoing spat with the Echo are real own goals, as is the removal of the phased payments for season tickets without notice. However, he comes from the very hard nosed world of finance, and I am also sure that there are some cultural differences that add to the situation. What amazes me is that people who could not run a Sunday Pub team feel that they are better placed to run a football club than someone who has worked his way to the top in industry.
The idea of fans on the board of SFC and fans trusts having an input into running a club the size of ours is a joke. This club got out of jail when Markus came along, yet here we are just over a year later with people seriously suggesting that Nicola Cortese should leave the club.
What planet are these people from.
well said redrobbo

Kevchenko says...
1:50pm Wed 8 Sep 10

I heard a couple of days ago from a very good source within the club the reason behind AP's sacking.

Pardew, Wally Downes and Stuart Murdoch (the 2 sacked coaches) had a habit of drinking too much after games and before team meetings etc which one day led to a massive bust up in training. It also emerged AP had been hassling one of the players wives with flirtatious text messages. So 4 senior players (two who were 1st team regulars) asked Cortese for a meeting with them. AP sacked afterwards.

On this basis Cortese was right to act for the benefit of the squad and secondly I think its great that players came together for the benefit of the team and club.

In regard to the new manager, would rather have Brown instead of Adkins (if thats who its now down to) but Cortese has met both (I havent) so will go with who he feels is best. He wants prem football just as much as us fans. There probably will be mistakes along the way but he can only do what he thinks is right for the club and learn from the mistakes.

As for people mentioning Lowe in the same sentence as Cortese. Gimme a break, Lowe didn't care about the team or the club or even football. He got us no investment coz nobody with money could trust him and nearly killed SFC. Would you really prefer Lowe over Cortese??? It worries me that fans will push our only hope of prem football away. Then where will we be.

COYR

SotonSaint1885 says...
1:54pm Wed 8 Sep 10

If we dont get behind the team i think AFC Wimbledon will be impressed with our stadium but if we can lift the team every home game we may get to Saints v Scunny for teaching us a valuable lesson.

Redrobbo says...
1:57pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Kevchenko wrote:
I heard a couple of days ago from a very good source within the club the reason behind AP's sacking. Pardew, Wally Downes and Stuart Murdoch (the 2 sacked coaches) had a habit of drinking too much after games and before team meetings etc which one day led to a massive bust up in training. It also emerged AP had been hassling one of the players wives with flirtatious text messages. So 4 senior players (two who were 1st team regulars) asked Cortese for a meeting with them. AP sacked afterwards. On this basis Cortese was right to act for the benefit of the squad and secondly I think its great that players came together for the benefit of the team and club. In regard to the new manager, would rather have Brown instead of Adkins (if thats who its now down to) but Cortese has met both (I havent) so will go with who he feels is best. He wants prem football just as much as us fans. There probably will be mistakes along the way but he can only do what he thinks is right for the club and learn from the mistakes. As for people mentioning Lowe in the same sentence as Cortese. Gimme a break, Lowe didn't care about the team or the club or even football. He got us no investment coz nobody with money could trust him and nearly killed SFC. Would you really prefer Lowe over Cortese??? It worries me that fans will push our only hope of prem football away. Then where will we be. COYR
Agree, all these anti Cortese posts and comments are wrong.I think because of what has gone on over the years with Lowe, Wilde et al then all those years of frustration are still bubbling under the surface with many Saints fans. Give the man a chance when he arrived they said there was a 5 year plan to get back to the Premiership. We are debt free, which in this day and age is very rare. Are friends down the road got away with living beyond their means, but sooner or later a big club will go under.Then you will see what a house of cards football is and several others will collapse.At which point we will be in a very strong position to move forward.

Kevchenko says...
1:57pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Saint Jimmer wrote:
Has any one thought of who the 2 prem managers could be? The name Roberto Di Matteo could be a possibility.
I thought about it yesterday. I reckon Pulis and Martinez.

saintsayer says...
1:58pm Wed 8 Sep 10

For goodness sake what alot of ranting on here to-day and all about someone or something that we have no knowledge of We as supporters must be prepared to get behind whoever gets the position right from the start We should never ever get on his back or the players until they have prooved that they are incompetant ie at least a year The oly time I have jeered was when we wanted Lowe out Anyone who compares him to cotese wants to take a reality check What RL did was purely fo his own pocket What Cortese wants is what we all want
How often must it be said Only believe what you read on the OS

french fan club says...
1:59pm Wed 8 Sep 10

heard a couple of days ago from a very good source within the club the reason behind AP's sacking.

Pardew, Wally Downes and Stuart Murdoch (the 2 sacked coaches) had a habit of drinking too much after games and before team meetings etc which one day led to a massive bust up in training. It also emerged AP had been hassling one of the players wives with flirtatious text messages. So 4 senior players (two who were 1st team regulars) asked Cortese for a meeting with them. AP sacked afterwards.

On this basis Cortese was right to act for the benefit of the squad and secondly I think its great that players came together for the benefit of the team and club.

In regard to the new manager, would rather have Brown instead of Adkins (if thats who its now down to) but Cortese has met both (I havent) so will go with who he feels is best. He wants prem football just as much as us fans. There probably will be mistakes along the way but he can only do what he thinks is right for the club and learn from the mistakes.

As for people mentioning Lowe in the same sentence as Cortese. Gimme a break, Lowe didn't care about the team or the club or even football. He got us no investment coz nobody with money could trust him and nearly killed SFC. Would you really prefer Lowe over Cortese??? It worries me that fans will push our only hope of prem football away. Then where will we be.

COYR
I heard a couple of days ago from a very good source within the club the reason behind AP's sacking. Pardew, Wally Downes and Stuart Murdoch (the 2 sacked coaches) had a habit of drinking too much after games and before team meetings etc which one day led to a massive bust up in training. It also emerged AP had been hassling one of the players wives with flirtatious text messages. So 4 senior players (two who were 1st team regulars) asked Cortese for a meeting with them. AP sacked afterwards. On this basis Cortese was right to act for the benefit of the squad and secondly I think its great that players came together for the benefit of the team and club. In regard to the new manager, would rather have Brown instead of Adkins (if thats who its now down to) but Cortese has met both (I havent) so will go with who he feels is best. He wants prem football just as much as us fans. There probably will be mistakes along the way but he can only do what he thinks is right for the club and learn from the mistakes. As for people mentioning Lowe in the same sentence as Cortese. Gimme a break, Lowe didn't care about the team or the club or even football. He got us no investment coz nobody with money could trust him and nearly killed SFC. Would you really prefer Lowe over Cortese??? It worries me that fans will push our only hope of prem football away. Then where will we be. COYR


Very well said.
100% agree

HarryMonk says...
2:00pm Wed 8 Sep 10

I'm not saying Cortese is a god (although he did have a say in saving our club).
I'm ranting at the out bursts from "nicola cortese is god" with regards to the posible Adkins appointment.

I think maybe Adkins harmed the poor boy in a previous life.

Whoever is the next boss will get my full backing (unless they have a SKATE back ground eg Hart).

french fan club says...
2:05pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Redrobbo wrote:
Kevchenko wrote: I heard a couple of days ago from a very good source within the club the reason behind AP's sacking. Pardew, Wally Downes and Stuart Murdoch (the 2 sacked coaches) had a habit of drinking too much after games and before team meetings etc which one day led to a massive bust up in training. It also emerged AP had been hassling one of the players wives with flirtatious text messages. So 4 senior players (two who were 1st team regulars) asked Cortese for a meeting with them. AP sacked afterwards. On this basis Cortese was right to act for the benefit of the squad and secondly I think its great that players came together for the benefit of the team and club. In regard to the new manager, would rather have Brown instead of Adkins (if thats who its now down to) but Cortese has met both (I havent) so will go with who he feels is best. He wants prem football just as much as us fans. There probably will be mistakes along the way but he can only do what he thinks is right for the club and learn from the mistakes. As for people mentioning Lowe in the same sentence as Cortese. Gimme a break, Lowe didn't care about the team or the club or even football. He got us no investment coz nobody with money could trust him and nearly killed SFC. Would you really prefer Lowe over Cortese??? It worries me that fans will push our only hope of prem football away. Then where will we be. COYR
Agree, all these anti Cortese posts and comments are wrong.I think because of what has gone on over the years with Lowe, Wilde et al then all those years of frustration are still bubbling under the surface with many Saints fans. Give the man a chance when he arrived they said there was a 5 year plan to get back to the Premiership. We are debt free, which in this day and age is very rare. Are friends down the road got away with living beyond their means, but sooner or later a big club will go under.Then you will see what a house of cards football is and several others will collapse.At which point we will be in a very strong position to move forward.
again 100% agree
back Nc the best thing that has happened to SFc in many a year.
if what you say is true above, and as the saem stort seems to come from more than one source, i suspect that its more truth than not, we are well shot of the old management team.
We are 6 points from the top of the league with a game in hand. win that we are 3 from the top.
Sheffield Wed are in ,meltdown with a 10 point penalty for administration arround the corner.
Stop knocking NC.
Ask AP why he lost his job?

steve1968 says...
2:22pm Wed 8 Sep 10

My personal view is that if Brown and Adkins have been speaking to the press then NC will not employ them. He keeps all his business close to his chest for me its gonna be someone who can keep his trap shut before his new Chairman announces it !!

Dickosfc says...
2:25pm Wed 8 Sep 10

leosaint wrote:
Isn´t technology wonderful, we can all be experts and have our thoughts published. Here is my thought back in 1957 before technology was invented Saints were in the old 3rd division srruggling in mid table managed by a young unknown who was in desperate need of a striker however the club had no money,so he went to the supporters club and they lent him £1000 to buy Jimmy Shilds from Sunderland who of course became an instant hero scored goals moved us up the table got injured and never played again. My point is the supporters didn´t boo the young manager they supported him and eventually he became very good at his job,his name Ted Bates. I have only one question ,Where would Saints be today if he had some of the so called supporters on this site who think they are experts calling for his blood?
Couldn't applaude this post any more. Take note doom and gloomers and wiend your necks in!!

Alicesdad says...
2:29pm Wed 8 Sep 10

I doubt that the last post about the "inside story" from a "reliable source" will be on the site for long. The last time that story appeared it was removed fairly quickly.

I agree though that NC is the best possible man for the position he holds. Remember he is teh Cheif Exec appointed by the owners, NOT the owner. Seems like many people just don't understand that. No matter. He is a force for good at this club.

Looking at the latest echo "vote" I see that 40% believe that O'Neill is coming here. Unbelievable. Who are these people that think that??? It's more likely that Alf Ramsay will be approached.

Maybe it's Adkins, I doubt it's Brown but one things for sure, impressing NC won't be easy, either during an interview or during a season. NC wants us promoted, this season. I think he'll get his wish.

Alicesdad says...
2:38pm Wed 8 Sep 10

steve1968 wrote:
My personal view is that if Brown and Adkins have been speaking to the press then NC will not employ them. He keeps all his business close to his chest for me its gonna be someone who can keep his trap shut before his new Chairman announces it !!
Absolutely agree. But I don't think Adkins went to the press, they went to him. And he has said very little other than repeating various pleasantries.Good for him. Brown however was waving his arms around like a school kid who needs the toilet if the headlines are to be believed (??!!!). You are right, that won't impress NC.

Saint Bean says...
2:39pm Wed 8 Sep 10

steve1968 wrote:
My personal view is that if Brown and Adkins have been speaking to the press then NC will not employ them. He keeps all his business close to his chest for me its gonna be someone who can keep his trap shut before his new Chairman announces it !!
I said exactly that in an earlier post. Me thinks its someone we wont expect.

Jesus_02 says...
2:41pm Wed 8 Sep 10

"nicola cortese is god"

Please wind your neck in.

You don’t speak for all saints fans, and you are exactly the sort of idiot that ran down Cortese for appointing Paul Harte

I hate the fact that some posters have started to say that Cortese "knows nothing about football" as if they do.

You miss represent the majority of saints fans that do understand the game and more importantly don’t overestimate the information that they wield

Saint Bean says...
2:48pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Anyone know when they do press releases is there a set time they usualy do it or is as and when

7saint7 says...
2:52pm Wed 8 Sep 10

we need a manager soon that's for sure who ever he is he will need the fan's help lifting the team on match day's so i for one we help who ever he is as he will need time to settle in. But if he's not good for the job here then after some time it will show and then well u know what happen's. so let's hpoe NC get's the right man for the right job COYR

HarryMonk says...
3:15pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Jesus_02 wrote:
"nicola cortese is god" Please wind your neck in. You don’t speak for all saints fans, and you are exactly the sort of idiot that ran down Cortese for appointing Paul Harte I hate the fact that some posters have started to say that Cortese "knows nothing about football" as if they do. You miss represent the majority of saints fans that do understand the game and more importantly don’t overestimate the information that they wield
110% agree with the above, start winding that neck in!

Rudolf Hucker says...
9:09pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Saint Jimmer wrote:
Has any one thought of who the 2 prem managers could be? The name Roberto Di Matteo could be a possibility.
Avram Grant & Alex Ferguson I think.
AG not doing so well at Hammers, & AF wants to bring Rooney down to Southampton. Roo's heard of a red light area not far from SMS.
PMSL.

lowe esteem says...
7:59am Thu 9 Sep 10

In a sea of gossip, Mr Cortese's words will stand out like a lighthouse.
It is time you embraced some of the media and the fanbase Mr C. to send out some positive information. A lot of your fans also hold influential positions and are looking to support this club in every way possible, but we do need your positive imput, you do need to shed more light on recent events to allay our fears, you must know we are still haunted by a previous regime.

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