derry

Looks like a proper centre forward. Needs to improve in the air but his movement, ball control and shooting were excellent.

I know what was said, to keep going we needed the club in administration. Administration could not be funded. The man who was paying bills agreed that. Whatever you may think might have happened, that was the situation as seen by the people involved. I believe them.

I don't care what was published. At the meeting the position was spelt out. The club was broke, out of time and unless an immediate purchase was completed they would be liquidated as administration could not be funded. In the event ML provided the funds. The meeting was to explore ways of saving the club but it was obvious to all present that an immediate completion was the only way. That is what happened. Fry's proposed meeting with the directors if no sale, would have meant liquidation at that point. All the he said this or that is irrelevant as by the time of the meeting it was all over unless the money was provided immediately, luckily it was. It was a shocking stark reality. Fry was lucky, he made a stupid call backing Pinnacle. Liebherr was a no brainer not even in hindsight.

If Mary Corbett along with Crouch and McMenemy felt that we were going to be liquidated as there was no money to allow administration then that was the situation. The Councillors said that they could buy the Stadium fairly quickly but as the time had run out the football club couldn't be saved whatever happened to SMS subsequently. Unless somebody came up with a cash bid. The Liebherr cash on the nail bid was the only way the club could have been saved. There just wasn't any time left or any other serious bid that could complete. Tyre kickers all, there was only ever one bidder with the means to buy Saints.

There were no other buyers, that is why there was the meeting. Nobody had the money to save the club in the time left before liquidation. Markus Liebherr was the only other option to Pinnacle which at that time was known to have no money. The club was going to be liquidated. If ML had needed finance the club was gone. It was because he had his own money and could act immediately that liquidation was avoided. What is incredible is that ML was ready to pay the Exclusivity fee but Fry chose Pinnacle who couldn't raise the money for the purchase or the deposit, who then proceeded to use up the valuable time that left the club on the brink. If Cortese had as we know now acted in character he would have walked away. I think it was Markus Liebherr, God bless him, who liked what he saw and waited.

The money for exclusivity was loaned to Pinnacle. SFC was on the point of liquidation when Pinnacle collapsed. If ML had not followed through or gone somewhere else the club was going to be liquidated within days. Crouch knew the precise situation at the club and didn't disagree with Mary Corbett's statement. I think he was misled by the grandiose claims by Pinnacle and desperately wanted to be involved in SFC so I believe loaned the money that kept the bid from collapsing earlier. I knew at that time about the blue chip Swiss company but not who it was. The person who told me is a friend of MLT and couldn't understand why Pinnacle were continuing despite having no money. At that time it was thought that the Swiss had walked away after Pinnacle had been awarded Exclusivity.

Four years ago the club was a basket case. Crouch was putting in his own money to keep us going. Fry was backing Pinnacle who turned out to be a joke and put us on the brink of liquidation ignoring Markus Liebherr and Cortese. The £500k deposit was borrowed from Crouch and Fialka appearing on tv was the last straw. MLT had been suckered in by Pinnacle and bloody near did for the club in the process. At that time I was at a meeting, present were McMenemy, Crouch and Mary Corbett who said at that moment the Football Club were right out of money. There was not enough even to fund administration and Liquidation of SFC was the next step. At that meeting were MPs and Southampton Councillors who said they could buy SMS to help but the FC would have gone before anything could be done, time had run out. Without Cortese and ML waiting out the Pinnacle farce lent false credibility by the MLT connection, we were gone. I'm not even sure Crouch got any of his £500k back. Cortese's influence saved the FC and his ambition and ML's money got us to the unbelievable position we are today. Only Markus Liebherr's ability to write a cheque immediately saved us. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. MLT was brilliant as a player and the club owe him a debt of gratitude for that. but does anybody really think the Pinnacle bid would have wasted so much time if his name wasn't part of it. I thought Cortese was an arrogant ***** but for all that he did a marvellous job as far as results go and I think that's his legacy and MLT should leave it there.

The only way he can find a way back here is to make it up with Fonte. If that can't happen and the other players want him out, there is no way back whilst maintaining any team spirit. Only Osvaldo can do anything, unless he sorts it himself there is only the highway.

Any idea how he is. Is it MS he has?

I thought Darren Eadie went with Bob Higgins when he left Saints.

That makes sense. Sounds like "fully segregated" is the criteria. Although the guarantee of sale of any initial allocation may be another reason. Additionally it's 15% 0f issued tickets, therefore with the corners closed the issue is reduced.

I seem to remember that there is a caveat written into the allocation rules regarding reduced allocation, something to do with safety issues. I've never been in that end of the Northam but the league allocation is always about 3200 which I believe has it's own away concourse. Can this be extended into the Saints section safely and with Police agreement.

The optimist in me says great. The cynic says I hope it wasn't "you write something along those lines and I'll sign it off". I'd just like things to settle down again, focus on the team, get the injured back and finish the season off well.

It seems all the Mali companies were liquidated. Are Saints the only company she is involved in?

Needs to be a lot better winning the balls in the air. I think the stats for winning headers are poor. Besides he has already changed from attacker to defender, he needs to bed in there first. Then maybe.

Until we have a replacement signed I can't see Lambert leaving especially as Osvaldo is still work in progress.

In my experience any time a tackler makes physical contact they are nearly always penalised. If the goalkeeper dives for the ball and the follow through takes out the attacker a penalty is the result. If this tackle had happened in midfield Brown would have been penalised. Ramirez was injured by the sole of Brown's boot impacting above his ankle from behind. How can anyone argue that the rule wasn't broken.

Probably told her solicitors to draw up a list of options after NC handed in his notice.

Press Association Sport also saying wide of the mark

One thing for sure anybody looking to buy Saints will have to be very rich or willing to borrow loads against the assets. The dream versus the nightmare. We still don't know it's definitely for sale. I think Cortese has probably let his control mania get in the way of a decent compromise. Even if it is for sale there would be no guarantee the new owner/s would want him on his terms.

I have a feeling it won't be anyone we know here. Any bets on a Swiss/German or Italian professional banker/accountant or the like.

I get the feeling hardly anyone realises just how difficult it is to play as a lone striker coming off two centre backs. Osvaldo can't, neither can Rodriguez despite their abilities. At this club at the moment only Lambert can play the catalyst that allows the movement of Lallana and Rodriguez . It's the way we play. To replace Lambert we need somebody as smart, similar, maybe younger and quicker or change the way we play which isn't going to happen. What will that cost?

Sensible man. Slept on it, made a good decision. He is probably upset but time heals especially if we do well. I wouldn't bet against a new contract in due course. Next step a first class business CEO to carry on. Katharina came to Southampton to hold this together, a good move. If she gets the staff onside the dream is on again. If she wants to sell it would be sensible to keep the dream going.

I can't see a multi billionaire being over impressed with bids for players she has on long term contracts, especially when it's her lawyers who will be instructed by her. I can see nothing happening in the short term until a CEO is appointed. Pochettino would be better advised to keep his powder dry until the situation clarifies itself.