CLUB STATEMENT
Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce that Ralph Krueger has been appointed as its new Chairman by accepting a position on the Board of its holding company, St Mary’s Football Group Limited (formerly DMSWL613 Ltd).
Ralph joins having just returned from participating in his fourth Winter Olympics, where he helped lead Team Canada to the gold medal in ice hockey.
As part of the wider process of strengthening Southampton’s leadership team, the Club can also announce the appointment of Hans Hofstetter and Gareth Rogers to the Holding Company’s Board of Directors.
Hans Hofstetter is an internationally connected business lawyer. His deep professional experience in corporate governance will be an invaluable asset to Southampton Football Club.
Gareth Rogers is currently the Club’s Interim Chief Executive Officer who will also remain an Executive Director of the Football Club’s Board, alongside Les Reed.
Owner Katharina Liebherr said:
“Ralph has an impressive background in major league sport at all levels, it is his experience as an expert in leadership, motivation and team-building that makes him ideally suited for this important position in the Saints organisation. He has been a leading advisor and coach to senior management in large international corporations for the past 20 years. In addition, he has been an active member of the World Economic Forum since 2011.
“The news that Ralph has agreed to take on the role of Chairman at the Club follows a calm and steady process of identifying a board that will bring the stability needed to achieve long-term success both on and off the pitch.
“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.”
Ralph Krueger said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Chairman of Southampton Football Club and the group.
“I have had the opportunity to meet with a large percentage of the staff at Southampton and it is clear there is a positive soul throughout the Club, both at St Mary’s and the training ground.
“We will build on that soul by creating platforms of open communication both inside with the staff and outside with our fan base.
“Although there is a solid foundation in place, the Club still has tremendous untapped commercial potential. We will continue to nurture “The Southampton Way” by reaching for consistent growth in all departments to ultimately build a culture that allows Southampton to remain healthy and sustainable in the future.”
Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/announcement-new-chairman-appointed-1415810.aspx#BAol61vbBI7ygMqv.99
I appreciate this will possibly take the thread in the wrong direction but, to me, one can see how important the cup games are for contributing to the "first team experience as early as possible in their development" philosophy that Reed talks about. If we're not going to do it in cup games then what's the alternative...? (yes, I know the stock answer is "in league games in the latter part of the season once we're safe from relegation" but between August and March cup games are surely the right vehicle to assist the development of our younger players.)