S-Clarke

If true, Cortese needs to back off. It only ends in tears once the chairman start picking the teams. (as we've possibly seen here) Let the people who you employed to manage the first team decide who bloody well plays. I utterly despise interfering chairman.

Thankfully.....He is the current manager of Azerbaijan side Gabala FC.

They're quite clearly trying to portray to us that it's business as usual and the players are ''happy'' http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/Gallery/0,,10280~2139716,00.html

I did notice that, but wasn't sure what to make of it. Last season it was always wilkins out on the touchline barking orders.

Blackpool have almost completed the signing of Matt Phillips, whilst Plymouth have made a firm bid for Adam Le Fondre.

If we get this sorted out quickly and get behind the new manager, then we should still be on for a top 2 finish. but it has put the success this season promised in a bit of doubt.

why wouldn't you be happy with Tony Mowbray Jeff?

Wilkins view - http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2139546,00.html

''Despite the large changes in his squad, Mowbray won the Championship Manager of the Month award in September 2007, after Albion gained 13 out of the maximum 15 points and climbed to 2nd in the Division.[9] At the start of 2008, Mowbray's young Albion team topped the table, receiving growing plaudits from the media[10] and supporters[11] alike for their attractive brand of attacking one touch passing football, a reflection of Mowbray's staunch footballing philosophy.[12] Mowbray guided West Brom to the Football League Championship title, meaning promotion to the Premier League and reached the semi-final of the FA Cup.'

One manager not really mentioned yet - Tony Mowbray? he got west brom playing a lovely style (goes along with what Cortese wants Southampton to be playing like.) and most of their success recently was down to what he built there. I think he'd be a terrific manager at L1/Champ level.

Lots of people are saying he was, but i'm yet to see any concrete proof. Wasn't that the same game Benjani was seen in the stands as well?

I wanted to put this on it's own thread, as i felt it's too important to be left to get lost in the main thread. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/08/pardew_sacking_at_saints_raise.html#248300 its quite revealing, and also paints a new light on the situation. As according to them, it was Markus who wanted Pardew sacked last year and it was Cortese who convinced him to stick with him. Very interesting.

It's not a knee jerk, it's not just about the sacking of the manager - it's about all the other rubbish that is going on at the club at the moment. Generally, it all stinks.

the same happend with Strachan before we got Pard's. he even had his training gear dropped off at his house

Le Tisser will never be allowed back in SMS with Cortese around!!

That sounds like exactly what's happening here. what a nightmare

I think he is here to create some sort of continuity whilst they search for a new manager (the fact he has been kept on indicates to me that they're not close to appointing a new one) He'll probably leave as soon as the new guys come in. Must be hard to get yourself motivated in a situation like that.

Something with Italians then! who is your chairman now?

That would be ridiculous.

good point MLG....either way, that is going to be a very very interesting forum. Cortese is going to get a very rough ride, hope he's ready for it.

Thanks Pards - you didn't deserve to go out the way you did, but you still brought me one of my best saints supporting days. Good manager, we'll do well to replace him with anyone better.

He won't say anything, he will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to get his pay off.

link?

few weeks IMO. I don't even think they're close. they've kept on Wilkins to create a familiar face in and around the first team, if someone was imminent i reckon he'd have gone too and Hunter would have just taken a day or 2's coaching.

It happened alot at QPR (i'm sure our resident QPR fan will pick me up on this if wrong) - they had a few Italian imports that the manager didn't scout. It's the European scouts that give the heads up on these sort of things, and luckily Cortese has a few links at Italian clubs and with Italian agents. I look at us now and see '''QPR'' - i remember thinking what nutters they were when they kept changing managers and expecting instant success. Thankfully they've toned down a bit now.