Toon Saint

RK's words about being here for 'at least' this coming season have hardly filled me with positivity about KL's long-term plans either. Is he in it for the long-term or is this job a quirky addition to his C.V. before resuming his career in Hockey? No ones intentions are clear.

So KL has led pretty much led every one of her Father's companies into liquidation? Jeez! As per your previous comments on selling up, I think you might be right.

The board are failing on almost every front. Embarrassing that they can undo our fantastic team spirit built over the last four years in little more than four months. That's almost every first team player that has come out and spoke of the uncertainty and lack of direction at the club. Where is Ralph? Implementing any leadership models? Nope, on his hols in Canada! You couldn't make it up.

Wifag, owned by Mali Holdings, definitely went into liquidation. Not sure if the parent company did, but the article below is rather worrying, especially the 'headless chicken' bit: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/16/katharina-liebherr-southampton-football-owner-german-markus

This.

Agree that he is by no means a perfect fit, but at least an experienced PL manager who is committed to playing young players. People are happy to offer the likes of Rosler and Howe but with little evidence that they could make the step-up to Premier League management. Some managers - the likes of Moyes or Lambert - are probably a bit unfairly tarnished with their experience at one club.

No one has mentioned Paul Lambert. Before I get a shellacking, I know it is hard to look past his possession stats with Villa and see him as an ideal fit based on our own brand of football this season. However, I do feel he has been dealt a really bad hand at Villa and not spent a great deal of money with a lot of restrictions placed on him in terms of lowering the wage bill. Some of his signings have been dodgy - though partly due to the markets he was shopping in - but then he also the ability to spot a gem like Benteke. I thought he actually had Norwich playing some decent football in the PL before he left. When Weimann, Benteke, and Abonglahor have all been fit and have started together (quite rare this season) they have also looked quite exciting going forward. Villa have had one of the youngest first teams this season and I could definitely see Lambert maintaining our commitment to blooding youngsters from the academy. He's obviously much more of a pragmatist than the likes of Poch and we'd probably have to get adjust to a lesser brand of football, but the guy has a Champions League winners medal and seems to earn the respect of his players. The uncertainty with their ownership might present us with a chance...and I reckon we could do a lot worse based on candidates currently under discussion.

How are we going to decide on the replacement? Really can't see RK or KL sitting around a table offering potential candidates (from footballing backgrounds, anyway) so the decision is basically going to be Les Reed's. Bizarre autonomy for a 'department head' to have.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/478314/Poyet-Lennon-and-Petrescu-in-frame-to-be-new-Saints-boss-as-Spurs-close-in-on-Pochettino Poyet, Lennon and Petrescu in frame apparently according to the Express. Petrescu's name has been lingering around like a bad smell for a few months - reminds me very much of how Krueger's name was eased into the frame as eventual Chairman. Please God, no. Isn't it terrible that Poyet looks like the best option out of those three?

He was a legend at their club and obviously had a strong connection with the place. Really can't see him being worried about raiding us for our players - though I'm pretty sure they will face some heavy competition.

Not much faith in the board to find a suitable replacement given the way they have handled this situation. Why is RK over in Canada at the moment? Surely he must be filled in on what is going on and realises the importance of securing a replacement quickly? I am assuming he will be conducting interviews - or will that be left to Les Reed as well now? Maybe Les will fancy another crack at the Premier League and simply interview himself. The mind boggles at how inept they have been at sorting this out. It should have been priority no. 1 when the new board was appointed, but Poch has given them the absolute run-around. I just hope Dan Petrescu - a name that has been doing the rounds for several months - hasn't been purposefully leaked like the appointment of Krueger was, in order to ease him in.

Depends on what he has been told by the board doesn't it? If he fears that we will sell 2-3 of our best players and not get adequate funds to replace them then overseeing a bottom-half finish with us might put his career back as well. Obviously the Spurs job comes with its own risks, and I'd venture that we'd offer a lot more job security than them, but Poch would back himself to succeed there if he feels they are the club to match his ambitions.

Agree that Poch has been quite machiavelian about the whole situation and it leaves a bit of a bad taste. Could have been handled much better by the board if they made it be known publicly that Poch has been offered a new deal, as he wouldn't have been afforded quite so much wriggle room in his pressers. While it might have looked bad if he rejected us at least the board would be seen to act decisively. As it stands the whole stand-off is just eating into plans for the summer, and the later it drags on the more upheaval it will cause. I'm sure I'd get over it if Poch signs a new three-year deal or whatever, but would be nice for him to act in the best interests of the club and not be so transparently political about things. Not a traitor though, as the situation at Saints has completely changed from when he first arrived.

Yes, agreed. Sorry, but the stuff with Canada isn't his job anymore. We are entering a fortnight that might well define how the club fares next season, so he should be around.

Worrying IMO how the responsibility for sorting Poch's extension has been devolved to Les Reed. When Ralph came in he was talking about discussions evolving organically, and about both him and Poch sharing the same emotional values and drives, which to me, suggested a level of responsibility for sorting out the contract as well as a quiet confidence that any negotiations would be concluded swiftly. However, Poch has done his best to distance himself from any sort of perceived cordiality between the two, just talking in quite cold terms about the 'new board', and stating on a number of occassions that talks over a new contract have not even taken place. Wouldn't be surprised if Les Reed took over contract negotiations purely because the club realised RK wasn't getting very far or telling Poch the things he wanted to hear - i.e. concrete vision for where to take the club, and not vague guff about maximising our potential. As I've said beforehand, Ralph is a likeable man with a lot of dignity, and he could in time prove to be a good Chairman for us. That said, I think he has been thrown right in the deep end and I'm not convinced he has the experience or football knowledge to convince Poch he is at the right club. Would be more than happy to eat my words.

Very true, should get a few plugs on his favourite Canadian radio stations too. Will also give him some time to dream up some more 'models of leadership' to possibly put into place.

A poor time to be taking a holiday if true.

Liverpool are preparing a sensational £24 million swoop on Southampton for their highly-rated full-back, Calum Chambers. Although Kop chief, Brendan Rodgers, already has England's first-choice right back, Glen Johnson, at his disposal, it is thought that Rodgers has serious doubts over his ability to actually defend. His calamitous performance against Crystal Palace, in which Liverpool let a 3-0 lead slip, has led Rodgers to consider bolstering his options, and after glancing down the back page of his trusty Southampton match-day programme, Chambers seems to fit the bill. Chambers was unavailable for comment about the purported transfer, but he is thought to be open to a move after being left crushed and humiliated by the decision to remove surrogate father-figure, Paul Williams, as u18 coach. Meanwhile, new Southampton Chairman, Ralph Krueger, was pictured soaking up the local culture with a shopping trip to Winchester this weekend. He told reporters that the visit had inspired him to think up a new leadership model that may or may not be implemented at the Southampton Saints.

Seems as if you are the precious one darling, setting yourself up as the Saints uber fan and whinging about everyone else like some mockney wide boy. Still not sure how fans being frustrated about the possibility of Poch leaving, and the boards efforts to retain him, confers any sense of entitlement or reveals whether they were on the terraces in L1 or not. Hardly FM14 wonderland to hope that we keep onto a manager that we already have is it?

Give it a rest mate. Disappointed if he does go as I think the club has been as good for him as he has been for us, but not sure how that makes me spoilt? Bit of a pathetic comment. Go and put your feet up and stop wumming on here if you are quite so content.

Luke Shaw to Man Utd transfer has 'stalled' now apparently. Massive about-turn from Jamie Jackson at the Guardian here: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/23/luke-shaw-manchester-united-deal-stalls?CMP=twt_gu