ray kemish

I am a bit stupid I know but it looks like at the moment The supporters Trust is assuming this - 1) The Old CVA is null and void (so £millions just wiped out) 2) They can buy the club for approx £5m (with no debts to pay as the CVA is null and void) 3) Buying the club also secures them a ground (of sorts) to play in - and previous owners are out of the picture 4) They get no more points penalties - as Newco have taken the punishment for going into admin, and there is no need for a new CVA as by buying the club they are paying off all previous debts 5) The FL will be kind enough to let them keep the Golden share, which actually belonged to the Oldco ,then the Newco (both of which will technically no longer exist) 6) The Prem will then kindly give them £14m in parachute payments (which actually the oldco were entitled to, but were then inherited by the newco, both of whom would no longer exist if bought by the supporters trust) If I've got that right (or more importantly if they have) - then knock me down with a feather, what a great piece of business! Spend £5m - get £14m. But wouldn't that be a little immoral?

Hmm - attendances 6000 down on last year's average, according to the article - £36 per ticket (plus another £36 if I paid for my student son). Any guesses why the attendances might be down?

Totally believe - but the only thing that can screw us up is if one of the big money boys sacks their current manager (how long will Wenger last) and comes hunting for the next big thing. Seriously, if they come knocking do we have the clout to keep Nigel? Let's be honest now, based on what we are seeing at Southampton currently (fantasy football), is there a better young English manager in the game? If we can see it, so can everybody else.

Unlikely to happen - but isn't it worrying to think that in order to prevent it we could be dependent on the FA (weak and corrupt) or FIFA (just corrupt). A simple rule change by FIFA outlining what constitutes a competitive league model (i.e current system) backed up with an edict stating players (from any country) could not represent their country unless they played in a competitive league, would prevent it happening. Some of the current mercenaries may be happy to take the money and not play for their countries but most I think would not. In time, competitive leagues would become stronger, a closed shop would appear irrelevant if there were no International progression and it would just fade away.

Is it not possible to abuse a player in a respectful kind of way? I know it sounds daft, but even Bale, Theo, Bridgey, even MLT (if he'd gone somewhere else) would expect some serious stick on coming back to Saints! Surely if it done with a bit of tongue of cheek it is okay - indeed probably a recognition of how highly regarded the player is. By the way - none of the above applies to Kevin Phillips - but we do look a bunch of mongs with the grief we give him and his missus!

Yeah, its a great league when your club has more money and better players than all of the others and you are not fighting for survival at the wrong end! I imagine that can be said of any league though. But I agree, it has been fun visiting some of the clubs we wouldn't normally expect to visit. I like not being ripped off for ticket prices, not having to always plan ahead; you can usually just roll up and pay at the gate for way games, not having to queue too long for pies, drinks, toilets etc, being able to park near the grounds, being able to pronounce the names on the opposition team (even if I have never heard of them), taking the mickey out of fans when our away support outnumbers their home support. And generally, without a doubt the banter usually seems more good humoured and entertaining than in the top flight where it all a little too serious these days

This photo appears on the front cover of 'Full Time at The Dell' Apparently it was from 30th April 1966 vs Charlton. Saints won 1-0. Photo taken from Overdell Court (which wouldn't have been there in the 30's)