Cortese interview

[batterseasaint]

It does seem that Cortese is running the show on his own now, whereas he appeared to be part of a double act with Oldknow at the start and appeared to be leaning on Oldknow's knowledge of English football.

 

Now, a short while later, Oldknow's name never seems to crop up in the public realm. Not to say he isn't squirreling away being a COO (whatever that is) in the background, although he did rather give the impression initially (to me at least) that he expected to be standing alongside NC up at the pointy end as the public face of those running the club.

 

However, ML did recently make it publicly very clear that Cortese was his chosen man and whom he had entrusted with executive powers to run the business in his (Liebherr's) name.

 

No mention of Oldknow at that time and very little since...

 

I was talking to a friend of mine at the weekend, who is very close to Pardew on a professional basis, and indeed was involved in the negotiations of his contract. Although Oldknow was involved in the initial negotiations of Pardew's contract, Pardew has since told my friend that Oldknow has absolutely no involvement in the running of the football side now. He is purely there to look after the commercial operations; ie. catering, ticketing etc.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I was talking to a friend of mine at the weekend, who is very close to Pardew on a professional basis, and indeed was involved in the negotiations of his contract. Although Oldknow was involved in the initial negotiations of Pardew's contract, Pardew has since told my friend that Oldknow has absolutely no involvement in the running of the football side now. He is purely there to look after the commercial operations; ie. catering, ticketing etc.

 

Interesting and I wonder if that has any relevance to Cortese's answer to a question about his role "decisions we took right at the beginning which probably need to be revised?

 

It seems however Andy Oldknow was the introductory agent to bring the Swiss to the table so would like his version - he may have done us a great favour. One thing I will credit him with is he knew his football.

[batterseasaint]

Interesting and I wonder if that has any relevance to Cortese's answer to a question about his role "decisions we took right at the beginning which probably need to be revised?

 

It seems however Andy Oldknow was the introductory agent to bring the Swiss to the table so would like his version - he may have done us a great favour. One thing I will credit him with is he knew his football.

 

Yes, that was another thing my friend confirmed... that it was indeed Oldknow who set the whole thing up, and that is the reason he got the gig to start with.

 

Oh, and the Strachan thing was never on the cards. Complete red-herring.

 

And apparently Pardew was only approached on the Monday, before signing on the Thursday. So clearly they had put a lot of work in identifying the right man before making their approach. As far as my friend is aware, no-one else was interviewed or approached about the job.

[Red and White Army]

Wow... the double standards of our fans are incredible. Under Lowe, we had a successful businessman brought in from the world of finance who had final say over our transfers...... he was pilloried for it and got some of the worst foul mouthed abuse possible.

 

We have exactly the same structure in place now and not a word of discontent. Maybe our fans have grown up? Would be nice to think so.

[um pahars]

That last sentence to me is quite revealing and infers that NC and AP simply HAVE to have a good relationship or things will quickly fall apart. I don't know how "qualified" NC is to take footballing decisions - obviously ML is happy for him to do so - but the dynamics of the relationship between manager and executive chairman will be fundamental to our success.

 

TBF I don't see NC having the final say as anything problematic.

 

The ultimate decision on buying and selling players will be determined by the CEO/Chairman who will either have to sanction the spending or call for funds to be raised.

 

The CEO/Chairman shouldn't be involved in the grass roots stuff, so until NC starts interfering with team selections, training, etc etc etc, then no problems with me.

 

I think what is being intimated in the interview is a million miles away from Lowe's micro management, meddling and interfering in fottballing decisions. That Dutch/Poortvliet interview about Lowe interfering in all footballing matters just highlighted what many of us had known and were concerned about for ages.

 

Hopefully NC won't replicate the failings of the busted flush that is Lowe.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Yes, that was another thing my friend confirmed... that it was indeed Oldknow who set the whole thing up, and that is the reason he got the gig to start with.

 

Oh, and the Strachan thing was never on the cards. Complete red-herring.

 

And apparently Pardew was only approached on the Monday, before signing on the Thursday. So clearly they had put a lot of work in identifying the right man before making their approach. As far as my friend is aware, no-one else was interviewed or approached about the job.

 

I don't think your last sentence is correct.

[shurlock]

Wow... the double standards of our fans are incredible. Under Lowe, we had a successful businessman brought in from the world of finance who had final say over our transfers...... he was pilloried for it and got some of the worst foul mouthed abuse possible.

 

We have exactly the same structure in place now and not a word of discontent. Maybe our fans have grown up? Would be nice to think so.

 

There's a difference between merely sanctioning transfers and actively headhunting/recommending/identifying players - Lowe strayed close to the latter on a number of occasions. Clearly the line is easy to cross in practise - hence why Cortese is considering a DoF for expert, independent advice. Such a thought would never have crossed Lowe's meglomaniacal mind.

Edited 18 August, 2009 by shurlock

[ottery st mary]

Wow... the double standards of our fans are incredible. Under Lowe, we had a successful businessman brought in from the world of finance who had final say over our transfers...... he was pilloried for it and got some of the worst foul mouthed abuse possible.

 

We have exactly the same structure in place now and not a word of discontent. Maybe our fans have grown up? Would be nice to think so.

 

You lost me at... successful businessman:smt081

[Teddy Nutkins]

I don't think your last sentence is correct.

 

Mmmmmmmm. don't suppose you would care to elaborate.I hope Pardew is not reading.

[Saint Richard of Woolston]

I also heard that AP was No. 2. After No. 1 initially accepted and then changed his mind literally less than an hour before he was due to sign.

 

FWIW, I think AP is a better bet than No. 1.

 

I would post his name if my source, who does read this forum, clears me to do so.

[ottery st mary]

Oh yeah.....I also heard that Capello was first choice.

[Weston Saint]

I also heard that AP was No. 2. After No. 1 initially accepted and then changed his mind literally less than an hour before he was due to sign.

 

FWIW, I think AP is a better bet than No. 1.

 

I would post his name if my source, who does read this forum, clears me to do so.

Agree, AP is the better choice. The No 1 might have a future role once he has rested

[miserableoldgit]

Wow... the double standards of our fans are incredible. Under Lowe, we had a successful businessman brought in from the world of finance who had final say over our transfers...... he was pilloried for it and got some of the worst foul mouthed abuse possible.

 

We have exactly the same structure in place now and not a word of discontent. Maybe our fans have grown up? Would be nice to think so.

Not quite. Lowe was originally here from (I think) 1996 to 2006. For the first 5 or 6 years of his "reign" there were no major incidents of unrest. Most people just accepted him as a slightly eccentric Chairman who seemed to know what he was doing, and who got on the Board of the FA, giving Saints a higher profile, and who was in charge when we built SMS. Quite a few probably even liked him for his tweaking of Spurs nose with his "North London yobbo`s" dig. The problems started when he seemed to start having too much say into the football side of things, and with the experiments (SCW etc), a season or two before relegation from the Prem. From that point it became the well documented sad downward spiral that we, hopefully, have escaped from.

Everyone remembers the last 5 years but forgets the first 5.

 

Also, by coincidence have just found this:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/3489097.stm an interesting read from 2004 with this line in it:- "Lowe's treatment of his managers has put at risk the respect he has earned from Southampton fans".

Edited 18 August, 2009 by miserableoldgit

[Pancake]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/4553769.Nicola_Cortese_s_exclusive_interview/?ref=rss

 

Interview now up on the Echo site.

[miserableoldgit]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/4553769.Nicola_Cortese_s_exclusive_interview/?ref=rss

 

Interview now up on the Echo site.

A decent read. He says all of the right things but more importantly, sounds like he means them.

[Frank's cousin]

Dont see anything controvercial ther TBH... NC is merely stating how the FINCIAL decisions are his... he will not be selecting players but from APs list will make the contacts look at the wage demands/price etc and make the decions yes or no based on whether its within budget...

 

What was more interesting was AP on teh radio talking about teh possiblity of working with a DoF that seemed on the cards... WGS anyone?