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The Chairman's Message


Saint-Armstrong

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Hi, just watched the Chairman's Message video on SaintsPlayer (the same one shown pre-tournament yesterday), and thought I would relay the main points to those of you without SaintsPlayer:

 

  • Markus didn't really think buying the club was such a big thing.
  • Markus AND Nicola were shocked by how much the club meant to the fans.
  • We have the finances, but we aren't like those consortiums that promise everything under the sun and fail to deliver and damage the club.
  • Markus loved taking photos of everything.
  • He even took pictures around Staplewood.
  • He took pictures of the club's tractors being left out in the rain because it shortened their life.
  • Markus only ever felt nervous once, walking out at Wembley and seeing almost 50,000 Saints fans.
  • Markus and Nicola spent a long time celebrating after the JPT win.
  • He took loads of pictures of the JPT.
  • He bought Nicola his promotion present just days before dying.
  • Markus has told Nicola the vision, and Nicola sees it as his duty to complete the goals set.
  • The main goal is returning SFC to a stable Premier League Club.
  • Nicola feels the vibe around the club is totally different.
  • He says "same fans, but more positive, the club has belief now."
  • He continues, "This is a new Southampton, things are finally coming together."
  • The club is now being run properly and responsibly.
  • Although promotion was expected it was a great achievement and if Markus could have written the script of promotion, it would have ended like it did.
  • This is the Southampton way.

 

 

 

It was a really good watch, and nice to hear from Cortese himself directly through the OS rather than a media outlet firing questions at him.

 

If you don't have SaintsPlayer I really would recommend it for this alone, and for what you get, you can't really grumble.

 

Thoughts on the message?

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The fact that we're back to this level is enough for now (a great two seasons' work considering where we could be post-admin), but it's great to know that Markus' vision is being carried out so doggedly.

 

Also nice to see that we have a chairman who's more human than some will give credit, as well as being able to bust balls when it's in the interests of the club.

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Just watched it and it is quite emotional in places. We were blessed to have been bought by Markus, but also that his friend NC was the mastermind and ended up being our Chairman. Nobody should be under any illusion that the club and it's supporters mean a great deal to NC - we are very much linked to Markus and his vision. NC is the custodian of the mission that Markus gave him - it's in his heart to see it through for his friend.

 

Couple of other points mentioned in the tribute was (a) that Markus was clearly quite ill and tired during the JPT final. The fact he smiled so much during the day with 50k other Saints supporters is heart-warming indeed and (b) that walking past the tributes outside SMS after Markus' death was extemely difficult for NC and it affected him quite profoundly.

 

OxO should take a few moments to look at that video and ask himself a few questions about personal integrity. Markus and NC had/have it in bucketloads.

Edited by Saint Fan CaM
Extra thoughts...
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Perhaps someone in UK should mail that link to the Dispatches programme makers

 

haha, love it whenever Saints are mentioned, even in passing, some fans can't see the wood for the trees. Straight on the defensive offensive!

The programme said one sentence, that our owner had died, and he did, and do we know who actually owns us now? Nope, me neither.

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haha, love it whenever Saints are mentioned, even in passing, some fans can't see the wood for the trees. Straight on the defensive offensive!

The programme said one sentence, that our owner had died, and he did, and do we know who actually owns us now? Nope, me neither.

 

The Liebherr family. As was pointed out by NC shortly after Markus died. HTH.

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haha, love it whenever Saints are mentioned, even in passing, some fans can't see the wood for the trees. Straight on the defensive offensive!

The programme said one sentence, that our owner had died, and he did, and do we know who actually owns us now? Nope, me neither.

 

Or maybe not blinded by other agendas?

 

Ownership is crystal clear...the estate of Markus Liebherr.

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The point here is when Cortese speaks he makes absolute sense.

We had a chairman who spoke too much, now we have one who probably doesn't speak enough. The less he says the more people fill in the blanks....

Shame, I really like him....

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haha, love it whenever Saints are mentioned, even in passing, some fans can't see the wood for the trees. Straight on the defensive offensive!

The programme said one sentence, that our owner had died, and he did, and do we know who actually owns us now? Nope, me neither.

 

Exactly. It's not something I particularly lose sleep over, but we don't know who owns us and it is quite a unique situation. Who is the overall decision maker? If all league club owners were to be put through a fit and proper person test tomorrow, who would be put up for it by Saints?

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Exactly. It's not something I particularly lose sleep over, but we don't know who owns us and it is quite a unique situation. Who is the overall decision maker? If all league club owners were to be put through a fit and proper person test tomorrow, who would be put up for it by Saints?

 

Probably the Lawyers dealing with the will of the late owner.

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Excellent interview. Shows that Nicola Cortesse really cares about the Club, Marcus's vision and ensuring that this vision is made reality. Agree this should be available to all saints supporters, everyone should listen to this and appreciate that NC will lead us back into the premiership very soon.

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Just watched it and it is quite emotional in places. We were blessed to have been bought by Markus, but also that his friend NC was the mastermind and ended up being our Chairman. Nobody should be under any illusion that the club and it's supporters mean a great deal to NC - we are very much linked to Markus and his vision. NC is the custodian of the mission that Markus gave him - it's in his heart to see it through for his friend.

 

Couple of other points mentioned in the tribute was (a) that Markus was clearly quite ill and tired during the JPT final. The fact he smiled so much during the day with 50k other Saints supporters is heart-warming indeed and (b) that walking past the tributes outside SMS after Markus' death was extemely difficult for NC and it affected him quite profoundly.

 

OxO should take a few moments to look at that video and ask himself a few questions about personal integrity. Markus and NC had/have it in bucketloads.

 

What's it got to do with Chambo FFS. Stick to the thread.

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I haven't seen the video so thanks for the update.

 

We now have for the first time, since Ted Bates's time in charge, a Chairman and owners who we supporters respect and trust.

 

 

Last time we were in the Championship we, the fanbase, generally believed that we had a right to be promoted back to the Premiership.

 

Correct me if you don't agree, but I think that now we know that we must earn that honour.

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"The main goal is returning SFC to a stable Premier League Club"

 

We were never ever going to challenge for the champions league though, it was probably a little nativity at the time that made them think it was possible - that's fairy tale stuff really and requires a massive amount of money, which I cant see us spending. So being a team that finishes between 6-10 in the premiership is fine with me. I think even that is probably slightly above our level, I'd say in reality at best we're a mid-table prem club (14/15th etc).

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"The main goal is returning SFC to a stable Premier League Club"

 

At no point in the video does Cortese say that. Complete fabrication.

 

We were never ever going to challenge for the champions league though, it was probably a little nativity at the time that made them think it was possible - that's fairy tale stuff really and requires a massive amount of money, which I cant see us spending. So being a team that finishes between 6-10 in the premiership is fine with me. I think even that is probably slightly above our level, I'd say in reality at best we're a mid-table prem club (14/15th etc).

 

14th/15th isn't really "mid table".

 

Saints achieved 8th, 10th and 12th at St Mary's with Rupert Lowe in charge and not investing hence the 20th in the last season of Premier League football at St Mary's. Liebherr/Cortese are clearly investing, hence multi million pound category one academy and training ground that wouldn't look out of place at Chelsea/Man Utd. You don't do that to remain in the bottom half of the Premier League.

 

In any case why do you think "in reality at best we're a 14/15th Prem club"? Only 10 current Premier League teams averaged 30k+ last season, Saints did every season whilst in the Premier League (including the relegation season). That is a good indication of size.

Edited by Matthew Le God
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What's it got to do with Chambo FFS. Stick to the thread.

 

Of course the thread has got something to do with Chamberlain - he is employed by the club and his comments to the press have been disrespectful of Markus' memory and investment, NC, Adkins, his teammates and the supporters of the club who have all in some way been instrumental in his development as a player. He's not the devil incarnate, but at 17-years old he still needs to learn some respect or find a better 'mouth-piece'.

 

I stuck to the thread, but your esteemed thoughts on the OP are what exactly?

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Nice message, although a bit wierd at the end when he goes on a lot about something "very personal" that Marcus told him but doesn't say what it was.

 

I had trouble understanding it too, but on a 2nd listen I think he's saying Markus told him about the investment fund he was setting up and NC's responsibility to see the job through to the end (i.e. Prem status).

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