Saint-Armstrong

Young manager. Forward-thinking, meticulous attention to detail. In many respects I think he would fit in well with the club's hierarchy and values. Hit a rocky patch at Spurs and Levy got trigger finger and then, err, got Sherwood in. When Ronald had a rocky patch, Les stuck by him. Think AVB has quite a long-term approach, I recall him being brought in at Chelsea to freshen things up and then Abramovich binned him off when he tried to move JT towards the exit door and upset Terry and Lampard in doing so.

Well, at least we know AVB and Les would share a common dislike of Neil Ashton. (confrontation with Ashton begins at 1:47)

With a red carpet out?

Newcastle's local paper reporting that we're after Wijnaldum: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/georginio-wijnaldum-fails-pledge-future-11423170 Spoiler: So are Everton!

BBC's chief football writer, Phil McNulty: ""Indications are this is very close now... Ronald Koeman will be announced as Everton manager very soon."

Had a scan around their website just now and couldn't find anything? Kept getting dead end links that gave me Jose Mourinho specials...?

Had a look for some footage and found this, from last week. Speaks about his plans at 1:03 in the video below. Sounds like he could be open to it, if it tempts him? (IMO)

BetVictor first to open the betting market on the next Saints boss, for anyone interested... (not suggesting they know anything, just that these are the odds/names they're throwing about)

I don't think David is suggesting we make Kelvin the manager! Just that he'd be handy to keep at the club as a staff member behind the scenes, or on the coaching staff, like Sammy/Dave, to provide continuity.

I would say it's because we tend to recruit people who fly just under the radar of the top clubs (take the stories of LFC/THFC overlooking Mane for example). We go for people who already have great ability, but have far more potential that can be realised. Top clubs are keeping an eye on them but won't gamble on them. We do our background checks and bring them in. When they impress, the 'gamble' factor disappears for those big clubs and they come in. Our ceiling, financially, is much different to those sort of clubs. That's fuelled by numerous factors: smaller stadium, having less time as an established Premier League club and, yes, the owner's approach to how much money she is prepared to throw at the club. Let me make it clear, though, that I am very happy that Katharina is committed and wants the best for Saints. I'm perfectly happy with our ownership situation. The club has shown it is unwilling to submit to bending the knee for a short-term reprieve, instead sticking to the board's values and the club's structure, and beginning the recruitment process again in pursuit of longer term success. Spending will increase, as shown with transfer outlays over the years, plus wage budgets - I can't imagine FF and VVD's renewals will have come cheap. But we can be smart and we can steadily improve, but we're not rushing anything and we're not playing games with the future of the club. I'm just fine with that, we've done well from this approach so far and so long as it continues, that's just great. There will come a point where it's hard for the club to bank on continual improvement season-on-season, and maybe we are at this point now - I genuinely don't know - but even still, the likes of Leicester, ourselves, Stoke and Swansea previously have shown that the apple cart can be upset. I'm very happy with the Liebherr ownership and I have full faith in Les Reed to keep us ticking over and trying to progress. If this is the end of the Koeman era - and I think it is - then the king is dead, long live the king. Excited to see who comes here next. We're in a great position, arguably our best ever in the PL age, to attract the person Les will want. That's exciting and we've still got plenty to look forward to. Long may the good times continue.

Confirmed by the family's spokesperson.

Jack Cork launching the new Swansea kit. [video=youtube;nO-9oXKZaUs]

Absolutely. And he has the same agent as Fonte - what more could you want?

Positive quotes from AVB on Saints in the past... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22410043

It's where the trade go.

On £7m+ per year with a £100m+ budget? Not for us it wouldn't. Especially if his mind is wandering already.

Yeah, I remember those comments. I'm sure he's moaned before about having a long-term project and not being given the support to oversee it. I would think him and Saints would fit each other quite nicely. I'd be up for him coming here as the Koeman replacement.

AVB left Zenit on the 26th of May 2016, too - so he's out of work right now and we wouldn't have to wrangle with the Russians to try and get him. Makes sense.

I would've thought Eddie Howe is very well-suited and should be considered. Young English coach, plays attacking football, track record of improving his team and developing individual players. Already local to us, as well. Whether he'd leave AFCB is a different question. He's got a lot of freedom there and financial backing too. I'd have him on the shortlist - definitely.

If Ronald doesn't want to be here then why do you want us to start breaking the bank to try and change his mind? You either want to manage Southampton or you don't. If you don't, okay, here's the door...

I would suggest, based on previous articles, that Wilson's opinions about Saints are pretty well-informed. Certainly wouldn't be complaining if we moved for him.

Jeremy Wilson has broken cover. Saints have an offer on the table to Koeman and have had no approach from Everton yet. If he talks to Everton they won't get drawn into a bidding war, they'll seek compensation and move on. Our leading candidate is Eddie Howe. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/03/southampton-manager-ronald-koeman-to-hold-talks-with-everton-abo/

Jeremy Wilson has broken cover. Saints have an offer on the table to Koeman and have had no approach from Everton yet. If he talks to Everton they won't get drawn into a bidding war, they'll seek compensation and move on. Our leading candidate is Eddie Howe. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/03/southampton-manager-ronald-koeman-to-hold-talks-with-everton-abo/

That's them! Thanks Chalkboy.

If Ronald doesn't want to be here or is wavering about committing to the club under the board's new plan for the next few years, then it's best that he goes now. For us, and for him. Everton fans won't be so forgiving if they hit a rough patch if he's taking £7m home every season, though... If this is the end of his tenure, thanks for taking over during the 'meltdown' and building a squad to get our two best PL seasons, back-to-back European football and setting us up nicely for a new manager to step up to the plate and do his thing.