MarkSFC

I know that's not a quote from the player but it's always funny to hear that a player won't drop to League One, when although he's at a premier league team he doesn't actually play in it!!!

The "Southampton Style" will not be forged overnight. It's clearly an element of the brand that Cortese is creating. It will probably take 3-5 years to establish "the style" throughout the club and for football to recognise it as such. What that style is I would hope will be a brand of efficient attacking football played at a high tempo that stretches opposition to the max.

Whatever way you look at it Nick has effectively gone public by releasing a statement even if clarification was the motive. Ok, if it wasnt his intentions fair enough and he felt he has to act but the wording of the statement merely provokes debate. The "procedures" are whatever the club tell you to follow once you make contact with the first person in the chain..in this case I assume someone in the ticket office. As I stated clearly if he followed what the club employees asked him too and no response was given then other methods are open for selection and fair game. The club would have to live with that. By saying "certainly not you" in reply to my questions about trading standards or the football league, you clearly become personal...why?? I was merely asking the questions as suitable alternatives perhaps. His statement mixes The Saints Trust with his personal situation so clearly they are linked in this scenario. By suggesting I am a sheep is folly. If you actually knew me you would realise that my opinions are always balanced and fair based on all sides of the fence. I have made suggestion by mentioning my instinct and you have jumped to a conclusion.

Scare-mongerer!!

AH! what I meant to say is that your last sentance is about not discussing business matters outside of the club......this is common business prcatice!!

Nick Illingsworth is a customer of Southampton Football CLub and as such should expect a certain level of service and communication...exactly the same as everyone else. The fact that it is Nick Illingsworth a self-promoting spokesperson for a so-called fans group and suddenly there are 8 pages of "discussion". These pages are based on a quote from the OP from Nick Illingsworth himself (apparently) which of course will be 100% balanced. The truth of the matter is that we DO NOT know the full story and NC/Southampton Football Club may in actual fact have a very valid reason for returning NIs money for his purchase of a season ticket. Having listened to Nick Illingsworth over the years, from the SISA invlvement to his role now in the Saints Trust, and having met and spoken with the guy, my overall opinion is that he is very political. To me he is the stereo-typical politician, saying whatever he thinks is the right thing to say at that moment in time despite what he may actually think. To me it looked like he left SISA when they became very ineffective and the Trust became (at the time) a more acceptable more centre/right wing body. He clearly is though a very passionate and dedicated "supporter" of Southampton Football CLub. And as any customer does, has the right to express his opinion or complain when he deems it neccessary. What is important here is the method and the manner in which he (or anyone else) does this. We/I certainly do not all the facts as yet and should not pass judgement on either Nick Illingsworth/Nicola Cortese/Southampton Football Club until we do. This said I doubt we will get a detailed reason from "The CLub" and nor should we neccessarily. Their dealings with an individual customer should remain between those two parties. I do not want my business with the club discussed in any medium without my say so, whatever those dealings maybe. Nick Illingsworth however has - in what appears to be "mid-transaction" so to speak" made his complaint/situation public. From his perspective, it appears, that the timeframes involved dealing with his apparent situation are not good enough and therefore he has "gone public". By doing so, and I stress this point, we/I do not know the full story he will have turned his situation into a legal one. As such the club will clearly take a difference stance than if everything had been dealt with in-house. Some people will say that perhaps the club would prefer it all to stay in-house and have a situation like the one that is alledged to have taken place in regard to Nick illingsworth hushed up. Of course they would...every single company in the world would. But it appears that NI did not follow a procedure laid down by the club for complianing and as such cannot neccessarily expect a timely response if any. If indeed NI has followed the clubs procedures as they set then question marks over that procedure are valid and the club should accept them, review them, make adjustments, satisy the customer and move on....in private. By going public, Nick Illingsworth has merely used his personal profile and contacts with local media to get his political message across. This is not the right or fair way of doing things. Has he gone to trading standards? Has he gone to the Football League? What he has done is mix his individual status as a customer with his position as Chairman of The Saints Trust. He has tried to use it in his favour yet when it seems like (and this is only from his side of the story) the club have made a decision because of his position with the trust he doesnt like it. Until the club states publically their viewpoint on the matter we will never know but I know what my instinct is!!!

"He said as much" is ambiguous, and not fact....link to interview? The people you know in the club, are they close mates or just contacts you have made over the years? And your last sentance is not about NC signing everything off its actually common business practice.

in true DBP stylee.....where's your absolute proof of this?

Once again a thread that descends into speculation around heresay!! Debating facts and the hypothetical is better surely?!

I'm sure AP won't wait till after the window shuts to get his main targets. I suspect any loan signings made after the window will just be a bonus. He seems to waiting for it all to kick off so to speak! And although ideally he gets the players in asap if it takes a couple more weeks and they miss 2-4 games sobeit. Better to get the right players other than second best right now.

Now I get it! This proves the vital importance of the academy. I doubt we will get any big stars so may well see the benefits of the trickle effect. APs comments make perfect sense now!

Their statement is truly laughable. The quotes Marsdinho has highlighted sum them up... "This AGM will focus on the valuable role the trust has played in the past year" "The last year has been a low key one in respect of the Trust" Why do they feel the need to continue in this vain. The "Saints Trust" surely "technically collapsed when the club went into Administration? Their purpose I was led to believe was to be able to have a voice at the AGM and as a collective group, attempt to have an influence. It failed so why on earth continue...especially under the same name? I have no problem whatsoever with any group of fans forming some form of group and acting in the best interests of fans (generically-not "on their behalf"). If such a group or groups are effective and needed then their numbers will increase and so will their profile. Currently though, I really dont see a need for any fans' groups, particularly "politically motivated" ones (to whatever degree). There may come a time when there is aneed and then the formation of a fans group should happen in order to address whatever that may be.... I have said this before and will say it again The Saints Trust should disband (as should SISA, FWIW) and IF NECCESSARY a brand new fans group can exist from a clean slate. I hope to god though that there will be no need for any politically motivated fans group for many years to come.

I read APs statement as meaning he has already identified who he ideally wants and those players are likely to be courted by others because of their quality. So, making the first move may not be the best strategy this early in the window. The selling clubs will probably need to replace and that has the knockon effect of price being upped depending on what we are paying. You also have the potential that a selling clubs' fans may not want the player to leave so the selling club will need a replacement before or very quickly after! I also read APs as a bit of a smokescreen to play down our expectations of who and when is coming in.

The words "first port of call" are significant ones. The article is slightly ambiguous and doesn't actually say whether 70% of responadants to the survey use the OS at all OR whether 70% use the OS "as their first port if call" on matters relating to Saints. Clearly in relation to other clubs the website is hugely successful. Sure, the level of "detail" in a few of the pieces on the site could be better and more "why" sometimes but actually the amount of stuff coming out is good. Recently the has been at least one new "story" everyday.

Been on the OS weeks ago!

You are still using money to pay their wages and possibly signing on fees. You are no where near as complicit as those complete cheats down the road but it is the same principle.

sure Demarcus Beasley went back to the states

I agree in essence, Im sure no-one "wants" to sit on the bench,but think someone llike Austin would be able to "do a job" in Lamberts absence alongside Barnard or Connolly, and would also put pressure on all of them to perform. What if, Lambert AND Barnard or Connolly get injured at the same time, would you fancy Henderson and Barnard/Connoly to be good enough for 10-15 games? I think Austin wont be as prolific this year (second season syndrome) BUT is definitely one who could go along way. He wont with Swindon and who will he learn off there?

Greatest hope for this season?-Champions Biggest fear?-not gaining promotion Most important player?-Whoever partners Fonte Terrace favourite?-Lambert Keep an eye out for...-Aaron Martin Player you'd happily drive to his next club?-Pulis, but I dont think there would be anywhere to drive to One change you'd make at your club?The Bar service on the concourses (and the beer) Have we got the right manager?-No question What advice would you give him?-forget the media, its all abot the football Which team do you most want to beat this season?-Swindon Opposition player you despise?-cant think of one! Opposition player you secretly admire?-Charlie Austin Where will we finish?- CHAMPIONS!!

In the CCC when we were crap?!! Suppose he could do a job. Still hope for better!

Varney and Henderson don't have great scoring records....we can do better, and hopefully will!

Agree, Im sure OxC will be used primarily from the bench hence we need a quality pacy player up the right/through the middle. Pardew may give OxC a full run in the cups. Id love to see us sign Charlie Austin, tall, good pace, eye for goal, young, and I think he can play off Lambert, with Barnard/Connolly or even out wide.

Of papa and Antonio I would go for Antonio because I think he improved greatly and finished the season best. Not overly fussed if we get him but definitely need someone of his type. Ox-C is probably at a similar place in his development to where Antonio was 12 months ago if not a bit ahead. The big diffeence is that Ox-C is 3 years ahead!! Very excitin prospect.

NickG, where is AP quoted as trying to sign one of the pacy wingers we have lost? (I assume you mean Papa and Antonio?!). Good if he definitely is. I predict mid-high nineties and champions.

Looks like a football-rumours.co.uk rumour...they date and timeeveryone!!