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Ralph Krueger - Chairman


david in sweden

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Good news so far, but I would encourage people to be a bit patient regarding Pochettinos contract - it doesn't run out for a while yet, I doubt they'll even start negotiating until he's in the last 6 months.

 

No way would it or should it wait until the last 6 months of his contract. Would be very unprofessional.

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Cynical but a lot of management speak. Said a lot without actually telling us anything...

 

Not sure what else you would have wanted him to say. Set out his vision for success, outlined his philosophy and said there was a lot that needed doing on the commercial side of things.

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Cynical but a lot of management speak. Said a lot without actually telling us anything...

 

Other than "we had tears in our first conversation", "When Markus passed away in 2010 she was put into a situation she wasn't looking for this early in her life", "the ties to her father and what he meant, and how much he cared about the Saints, has come alive in Katharina", "it's clear that everything she does she's doing with her father in mind".

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As FF says, the reaction of Pochettino will be a big indication.

 

If he stays and signs a new deal then he obviously believes in the new structure. If he were to walk away then it would be worrying.

 

But from what RK says in the video, they seem quite hopeful he will stay, and importantly, seem to rate him highly.

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I suggest people watch this rather than just read the transcript. It's a lot easier to understand what he's actually saying - the bits about open communication with the fans and showing the fans respect should be interesting to a lot of people.

 

Of interest to fans, yes. Of interest to the hairsplitting, naysaying, lemon-sucking curmudgeons on here, no.

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Cautiously optimistic.

 

RKs words certainly don't paint the picture of a club about to be flogged, or about to hold a fire sale.

 

I'm sure a conspiracy theorist, or devil's advocate, could argue that what we've actually seen today is an excellent subliminal sales pitch... They'd say: What type of football club would be worth more on the open market? One that's rudderless and directionless or one that's just announced a new board and intentions to "continue with the project"...?

 

Not that I'm one of those kind of people of course... ;)

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Cynical but a lot of management speak. Said a lot without actually telling us anything...

 

I'm afraid thats my feeling also. His definition of success is "fulfilling our potential" ....well that might be 8th place in the Premier League with the squad we have

 

I really want to give him the benefit of the doubt though.

 

I might start to believe when I hear him and MP refer to the Southampton Football Club again rather than "the project" ...oh and we try to win the FA Cup if we get given the chance on a plate

 

Onwards and upwards!

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First impressions are very encouraging. Looks as if KL is set for the long-term, and very positive words from our new chairman re: open communication with fans.

Seems as if he has forged a good relationship with Poch already, and reading between the lines, it suggests an announcement about his contract extension - 'we will be very open and quick when we look to finalise' - is very much on the agenda, and hopefully not too far away,

 

Seems as if KL and RK are very much defining their goals in opposition to the reign of Nicola, perhaps a little too much, as would have liked to hear a bit more substance about long-term plans on commercial development and infrastructure side of things...hopefully he will be able to articulate those ambitions - rather than the nebulous 'fulfilling our potential' - with a bit more detail at some point.

 

Can hardly complain too much though...seems the polar opposite of Nicola, and great to have a Chairman fronting the camera, happy to entertain the media, speaking with candour, etc.

 

Funny to think about the hysteria unleashed after Cortese's resignation. It was always a worry about him clashing with KL at some point, and for all the good he did for us, at least we have a Chairman, owner, and (hopefully) manager, now working together on the same page.

Edited by Toon Saint
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His definition of success is "fulfilling our potential" ....well that might be 8th place in the Premier League with the squad we have

Does anyone think he would have taken the job and uprooted from Canada if he didn't think we had potential to be better than we are? Getting there of course, could be a challenge but he wouldn't be wasting his time with us, if he didn't believe it.

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Krueger, just on the strength of this one interview is a very good communicator with the common touch, somebody whom one immediately feels an affinity with, approachable and self-assured. His vision for the club is probably equally as focused as Cortese's, but he is going to make the journey much more enjoyable for us, because he is going to include us, the fans in his plans.

 

:lol: he reminds me of jesus

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Interesting that KL once again makes referance to "great respect for Saints History ".

 

She obviously saw this as a major failure in NC's tenure.

 

I can see exciting times ahead.

 

Kreuger is a winner.

 

I cant see him settling for 8th or 9th.

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Interesting that KL once again makes referance to "great respect for Saints History ".

 

She obviously saw this as a major failure in NC's tenure.

 

I can see exciting times ahead.

 

Kreuger is a winner.

 

I cant see him settling for 8th or 9th.

 

 

Agreed. I think the first sign of 'the great respect' will be a return to stripes over the summer. Win, win...

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I thougth it was an excellent interview and his Comments re KL we excellent. She has the saints bug as much as her late dad. just hearing that and her written comments

I loved her comment in the press release "I will remain on the board, with an active involvement, and we will continue to move forward with great respect for Saints' history, while at the same time work towards a process that is creative, unique, dynamic and modern."

 

Im sure there will be the normal trolls who will try to disect the positive news coming out of the club.

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24ac149b4cb1513b055864e8846def47_bigger.jpegSimon Peach@SimonPeach

Newly-appointed #SaintsFC chairman Ralph Krueger says owner Katharina Liebherr has "zero" intention of selling the club

fCD43mdg_bigger.jpegAdam Blackmore@bigadamsport

New #saintsfc chairman Ralph Krueger says owner Katharina Liebherr has no intention of selling the club & "is here to grow the club".

 

24ac149b4cb1513b055864e8846def47_bigger.jpegSimon Peach@SimonPeach

Krueger dismissed talk Liebherr looking for a quick sell, saying #SaintsFC "has become a very important priority for her. She cares."

 

24ac149b4cb1513b055864e8846def47_bigger.jpegSimon Peach@SimonPeach

Krueger recently turned down five opportunities to return to the NHL & is confident of turning #SaintsFC into a "healthy sports model"

 

24ac149b4cb1513b055864e8846def47_bigger.jpegSimon Peach@SimonPeach

He believes #SaintsFC have "unlimited potential" & keen to make home-grown focus key marketing point. Coy when asked about keeping players.

 

24ac149b4cb1513b055864e8846def47_bigger.jpegSimon Peach@SimonPeach

Krueger suggested the #NFL's "sentimental favourites" Green Bay Packers was the kind of unique marketing position #SaintsFC could fill

Edited by trousers
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26545313

 

Ralph Krueger: Southampton not for sale, says new chairman

New Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger has dismissed speculation that owner Katharina Liebherr wants to sell.

Krueger, a former ice hockey coach, was named as chairman on Wednesday, replacing Nicola Cortese.

"It is not [for sale]," Krueger told BBC South Today. "Katharina Liebherr is here to grow the club."

The 54-year-old did, however, skirt around the future of boss Mauricio Pochettino, as well as England players Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana.

Liebherr, whose father Markus bought the club in 2009 before his death a year later, installed herself as Cortese's replacement eight weeks ago, when he quit after five years at St Mary's.

And Krueger said Southampton's owner is fully committed to the club and has relished her time at the helm.

"Katharina has embraced so much of the environment. She has been visible and coming to games and the smile has been hard to take off her face.

"She is excited about taking this club to another level and doing everything that is possible to nurture that and that is a message that I am carrying into the public spectrum.

"Right now we are going back to work. We know there are a lot of areas to improve on and Katharina wants us to attack those opportunities together."

Krueger said his main challenge was to grow the brand of Southampton at home and abroad as well as improve communication and relationships with local community.

He also recognised the need to improve the perception and reputation of the club.

The Canadian-born German, who was a consultant to Canada's gold medal-winning ice hockey team at the 2014 Winter Olympics, confirmed he had held positive discussions with Pochettino but refused to confirm whether the Argentine was in talks over a new contract.

Following Cortese's departure Pochettino, whose side currently sit ninth in the Premier League, said he would consider his own future at the end of the season.

"I don't want to breed speculation," he said.

"From the very first moment we realised our values are in line. There is no adjustment to make here.

"We had a lengthy dinner in the middle of January, five hours of discussions that flowed naturally and even though we come from different sports worlds, we speak exactly the same language.

"Everyone knows what we are trying to build on here and we will let everyone know as soon as we have a solution."

Krueger also fell short of easing fears Shaw and Lallana would leave the club in the summer, adding: "We need to be successful on and off the pitch and we will do everything possible to have the best possible team."

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24ac149b4cb1513b055864e8846def47_bigger.jpegSimon Peach@SimonPeach

Newly-appointed #SaintsFC chairman Ralph Krueger says owner Katharina Liebherr has "zero" intention of selling the club

fCD43mdg_bigger.jpegAdam Blackmore@bigadamsport

New #saintsfc

 

chairman Ralph Krueger says owner Katharina Liebherr has no intention of selling the club & "is here to grow the club

 

 

 

oh! now that's going to upset that dozen or so on here who were just waiting for her to sell - out and then to say....... I told you so ........:rolleyes:.

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Adam BlackmoreBBC Radio Solent sports editor:

Krueger was impressive, both warm and authoritative. He wisely distanced himself from the football side of the club, steering clear of any Clive Woodward [former Southampton performance director] comparisons.

Like a well-versed politician he said a lot whilst not giving too much away, but after years of boardroom silence, and months of uncertainty over the club's future ownership, Saints fans will just be delighted he has said the club is not for sale.

It is obvious that he feels the club can grow commercially, especially in North America, and his appointment makes sense on that level alone. Katharina Liebherr promised a more open and communicative club, and today was a good start.

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Simon Peach@SimonPeach 50s

Krueger told me finishing training ground was "priority one" & looking at expanding/improving St Mary's second behind that.

 

:p :D

 

We don't need the stadium expanded. Attendances against Villa, Sunderland, Swansea, West Ham, Fulham, West Brom prove this. I suspect Newcastle/Norwich/Cardiff/Everton will be around the 28,000 mark as well.

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I'll reserve judgement until we see what he can do, for the time being i'm concerned by the shear amount of management waffle and guff he talks whilst not actually saying much of anything.

 

My main concern is the lack of objective and ambition they are showing, and he is in fact talking down success on the football pitch in favour of better communication with the fans. Ask arsenal how much they like not winning things...

 

Say what you want, Cortese came in and said bold ambitious things, and then he delivered them.

 

"5 year plan to return to the premier league"

Long term goal to become and established premier league team (done in 5 years :lol:) and push for europe in next 5...

Youth academy

50% of team from academy etc etc

 

The fact that this guy can't give any indication of objectives is concerning, its not hard to just restate the existing ones ala academy and 50% of fist team... but he didn't do that. Worries me. Gone from balls and drive of steel Cortese to what exactly.

 

Far from placated at this present time, a good summer and pochetino signing will go someway to instilling faith in me.

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