Lallana's Left Peg

His heart is in the right place but at a time when the football club (not the organisation, the FOOTBALL club) needs real leadership he is helpless as he has no familiarity with the sport. Took over at a very bad time. Would not be so bad if there was ANY football experience on that Board beyond Les Reed (who I have already said I think isn't qualified for the role).

You aren't half clutching at straws there. At best an extra million I'd say. What sort of add-ons would you expect for a 32 year old signing a 2-year deal?

Monk I don't have an issue with our place in the football world and nor do I have the expectation that Saints will ever become any better than we are now. What I don't like to see is the club go through a period where it looks like several players will seek to move on and we have this situation at the club: 1. An unproven DoF of whom it is said players do not like 2. A DoF who is the only person on the Board to have experience of football 3. A Board who do not appear to be on the same page 4. A Chairman who makes public statements (and public speaking is something that is a strength of his) which in 24hrs time will appear like the fans are being lied to. Managers and players come and go. We all accept that. But what we don't accept is a lack of a backbone and unqualified people in important roles running our club. It does not bode well.

I know what his responsibilities were beforehand as Reed listed them in an interview. I know what his responsibilities are now as Krueger and Reed have mentioned them in recent interviews (April and May). The players not liking him comes from Adam Blackmore.

His previous role was overseeing the Football Development Centre. He had responsibility for the Academy, Sports Science, Scouting etc. It is widely believed he was also a part of the 'transfer committee'. And clearly he had an advisory role with Cortese. In the new Board he is now effectively Director of Football. His increased responsibilities (as long as he is a DoF in the traditional sense) are: Transfers, Contracts (both new players and existing), Managerial Appointments, and setting the direction the club / team is to go in on a sporting level. His increased responsibilities means he has far more touch points with the players, and makes decisions that directly impact them - both personally and at a sporting level. If they do not like him that does not bode well at all.

I took my position and questioned his credentials the moment Pochettino left. I raised an eyebrow when he listed his responsibilities back in April. A few days ago I wondered a) if he alone was suitable to be a DoF, and b) whether he was especially appropriate with zero other football experience at Board level. Most people responded suggested I was talking rubbish and Les Reed was entirely suitable to be DoF. In the last 24hrs we've had reports emerge that we're about to sell our best striker for £4m and now Adam Blackmore has publicly come forward and stated players have told him that Les Reed is an issue for them. So given the ease with which my view was dismissed by many a few days ago I'd be interested to see if people still hold that position in the face of all this.

People still think Reed is the best man for the DoF role? They've gone quiet the last 24hrs.

Oh dear.

Decent kit for a premium price flogged to anyone that will have it. I wonder what it was that attracted Saints to her - I didn't realise she'd be marketing the players not the club.

There is no doubt he'd want to join Liverpool. Boyhood club, better team, CL football, moving home - I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't join them.

I wouldn't bother - I pointed out my concerns with his credentials as a DoF and also that he appears to have all footballing decision making power in the Krueger interview thread yesterday and I was told by 90% of people I was talking rubbish. So I can only assume those same people are delighted with the news we're selling our best striker and talisman for £4m and that it is all a part of the Les Reed masterplan.

Where are all the people saying Les Reed is a great choice for DoF?

If we're willing to sell our best striker for £4m then of course they will get them.

And just in case you weren't worried, Ben Smith has said that Liverpool are still in "talks" for Lallana and Lovren as well. ****s sake.

Exactly. Even if he was only good for another season he is still worth £4m to us. Pathetic how we are selling him. Absolutely pathetic. One of the worse things the new Board could do in the circumstance - not having a Manager, stating 24hrs ago no players would be sold until we had a new Manager, talk of respecting the club and the fans etc. And then they do this. They would just appear as bare faced liars and a lot of trust and goodwill would be lost.

Can you imagine the interview? Board: "So then, what would attract you to the Southampton job?" Manager: "Well, the quality in the squad is very good and the chance to work with and push great players is very appealing. The likes of Luke Shaw...." *Board all look at each other* Manager: "I suppose that would still leave Adam Lallana..." *Board all look at each other* Manager: "You've still got Dejan Lovren, Morgan Schneiderlin* *Board all shuffle uncomfortably* Manager: "Well you still have the talisman Rickie Lambert" Board: "We'll wrap this up now" No wonder the likes of Oscar Garcia are being linked to the job. He'll be asked how he can get the best out of Billy Sharp ffs.

Fee of £4m now being reported. Someone let the *****s making these decisions know exactly what we think of them.

28th May 2014. Southampton Chairman states that all player 'transactions' will only occur when a new Manager is appointed. 29th May 2014. Managerless Southampton on verge of selling talisman striker to Liverpool. Les Reed just keeps on rolling, but it's ok lads, he's fully qualified for this DoF role at Southampton

Seems like a good deal but you have to reserve judgement until you see how the money is spent. £9m will mean nothing to us if we sign someone **** with it. Can't say I'm getting my hopes up...

Would be the most underwhelming appointment ever.

Would you take the best Manager available or the best fit for Saints? And if the latter what type of Manager do we think is the best fit for Saints?

I agree with this. But for every £20m player you sell you create some pressure to replace him with a player of adequate performance (or the potential to be) otherwise the team can suffer plus no club in the world has a better transfer record than 50/50 so it still points to potentially lots of money being wasted. But as you say, better to have players that are in demand than not.

Adam Blackmore suggested there are no trips abroad this year.

Of course, but with no other football experience on the Board on what basis can they challenge him? If we had a CEO like John Williams then at least his experience would be more comforting and offer some balance and insight rather than having a single individual on the Board who has football experience and appears to have a lot of authority.