Weston Saint

Let me say straight away that Adam has been saying these things privately since Pochettino arrived so not news to me.

Agree completely. On T20 front, Hampshire have not only qualified for QF with 2 games to go but are also guaranteed a home draw. The lowest they can finish is 2nd in the group. Top of each group plus best second get home draw against one of the other two seconds and best 2 3rds. Lowest we can finish is best 2nd.

When Keegan made that comment it was probably correct but times and money have changed in football. OK, Sky money is given to all Premier clubs so not too much of an imbalance there. The big issue now is money invested by billionaire owners (not much of that around in Kegan’s era), vast sums from European cup runs (nowhere near the same scale in Keegan’s era) and corporate exposure worldwide (much more now than in Keegan’s era) Can Southampton win the league (or even compete for the top 4) in the next few years? The answer is sadly no. We have a good investment stream but we cannot yet compete with clubs willing to pay £30m plus on players that will make a difference. We cannot yet compete with clubs willing to pay their top stars £80,000 to £120,000 per week. We do not have the income from European ventures. We are still finding our way around corporate exposure in the world. We are looking to buy better players but we appear to be having difficulty persuading them to sign. We have yet to earn the right to do so. We must earn respect. That takes time and money. It may come so to say never is unadvisable. But for now we should concentrate on making steady progress year on year.

Shame, I want to beat their best team, not give them excuses when they lose.

You do not really know him do you! At Hampshire game a member went to the Steward to say his son and his friend wanted Warne's signature as they were great fans of his bowling. The steward asked Warne who said he had to do something first to do with the team but would come back. 15 minutes later Warne was sat between the two kids chatting and it absolutely made their day. This is one of many stories I can tell about Warne and other players and officials Warne was one of the greatest players of all time.

I did not go into detail with him, first because I was called into a discussion with someone else part way through and secondly at dinner we had other thinks to discuss. However. I do not think he was meaning kit. He loved the away kit but was reserving judgement on the home one. He did not think there would be a mass change in players, just few good additions but a big season for many of the first team squad. I think it was more our profile, playing style (we started that last season) and "overall set up". I have no more knowledge on SMS developments but we all know Cortese's views on that. We know how Staplewood is developing. I think the changes will be driven by these sorts of thing as well as the massive ambition which again has been widely reported.

The whole set up, he said.

Everyone at the club very excited and positive about the new season. Working very hard in training which is exhausting them but getting them ready. Plenty of ball work. They cannot wait to get started. Still no info on players coming in. If a player does not buy into the tactics, training and vision he will not be signed or if he is already part of the squad he will find himself having to move on. My contact says Southampton Football club will be unrecognisable at all levels in the next 3 years. There is a real excitement and ambition within the club.

Latest is that there is no knowledge of any player coming in at present. There has been no strange or interesting appearances at SMS or Staplewood. Trust me, on the evidence I have heard today the players are unaware of any potential signings at present.

I should also add that a highly motivated, focussed and talented team should not need a captain on the pitch for the 90 minutes.

It is not just being a captain on the pitch. Adam does an lot behind the scenes that most of you would not believe and I am not going to breach confidences by saying any more!

Forget the "cover for players"....we will only buy players that are good enough to compete in the first team. We are looking for players that will make those who are regulars have strong reason to up their game. All players have been told not to expect automatic selection....ALL PLAYERS. We are looking upwards, not sidewards or cover!!

Simply do not understand some of the comments on here. Both teams wanted a win with one day wiped out by rain. Gloucester batted for 3 and half sessions on a wicket that was drying out nicely. They scored over 400. This was effectively a second day wicket and you would have expected Hampshire to score 400 on it. They have done so this season on more than one occasion. There was no pressure on Hampshire. They had more than enough time. They just batted poorly although Gloucestershire bowled better than we did! So what was the alternative! Hampshire bat to get 250 to get a couple of batting points and avoid the follow on target...then declare(that would likely to be the end of the day 150 behind then let Gloucester score 150 in one and half sessions and set us 300 in about 50 overs!!!! That then depended if they thought they could bowl us out in 50 overs. The decision by Adams was good for the game in play, gave us the best chance we might have and was supported by most I spoke to at the ground. This was not a 4th day wicket, this was the second day and we have every right to think Hampshire could get there with their batting line up. They just played it badly with Adams convinced he did not get a touch. This guy is our top scorer this season.

Cough.......... MONEY!!!!!!!

Utter embarrassment. Our bowling was pathetic and our batting is equally as bad. Think I will call it a day!

Here is how the conversation went......Adams came to the boundary just as Gloucester were reaching 400. there was a conversation and pointing and then what looked like an agreement. Gloucester then reached 400 in the last over where points available Dawson bowled his next over very quick and it was blocked. Seemed strange but I then looked at the score board and our over rate was -3. Became clear Adams wanted that down to 0 to avoid points penalty but he did not want to chase much over 400. As soon as it was back to 0 declaration came.

Adams made the decision and it is a good one. Gloucester supporters are not happy. Supporters of Hampshire are happy. Makes interesting cricket. I back Hampshire to win this!

Hampshire forfeit 1st innings Gloucester 2nd innings Hampshire require 411 in 168 overs we are now one wicket down without score

Jun 12 2013 Following certain comments which have been printed in the local media over the last week, Hampshire Cricket Chairman Rod Bransgrove would like to issue the following statement pertaining to the Club’s relationships with Southampton Football Club [sFC] and Portsmouth Football Club [PFC]: “Before I begin, it is important to stress that Hampshire Cricket has always, and will always, welcome supporters of all other sports clubs – including those from Southampton FC and Portsmouth FC. It is in the interests of the Club to establish and maintain good working relationships with other local sports businesses in order to explore mutual opportunities. “Historically, we have enjoyed an excellent relationship with SFC and we are keen to pursue and develop this moving forward. Indeed, many of my personal friends are former Saints players and administrators and I, myself, have followed the club since I moved to the area in the 1980s. “My unguarded comments about the circumstances that some of these friends find themselves in were not intended to be a criticism of SFC management. They were intended to explain why I have not visited St Mary’s Stadium so frequently during the past season. I enjoy seeing these friends at football matches and my preference is for sports clubs to embrace their past and maintain strong links with their history and the people who made it. “With regards to Portsmouth FC, Hampshire Cricket has found it difficult, in the past, to establish the same sort of relationship that it has enjoyed with SFC but, after a series of meetings between myself and Iain McInnes [Chairman of PFC], this is now a distinct possibility. “We, therefore, welcomed the news that PFC had emerged from Administration and with an ownership model which provides participation for its supporters. It is important to the well-being of the area, generally, that all of our sporting businesses do well. “In the next few days, Hampshire Cricket will be announcing a partnership with Portsmouth FC that gives their season-ticket holders a discount on a five-match ‘passport’ to see all of the Hampshire Royals’ home Friends Life t20 fixtures this season. It is an offer we have extended to Southampton FC and very much hope they will take us up on. “Furthermore, with both Clubs, we hope this deal will be just the start of a number of exciting initiatives we will jointly explore moving forward.” “Any inference that I am personally relinquishing my support of SFC for PFC is ludicrous. I wish both clubs well for the forthcoming season and am delighted that the circumstances for both clubs now are very good. “Personally, I grew up in London as a Spurs supporter in the 1960s. My father was an Arsenal supporter – but I never held that against him! Local rivalries are a part of the fun of sport. As is the case with cricket, football is only a game”

If you knew him well like I do you would not make that comment.

Oh dear what a non story! I spoke to Rod at the end of the Lancashire 40 over win about Saints because he used to occupy the box "Ex Directors" with a number of other high profile individuals. he told me then he had not been for a while and was losing interest in Saints because of the way his friend Benali was treated. He said he was more akin to Portsmouth because that was now a club who would look after their heritage. He is close to Le Tissier and Benali so it is understandable he is upset. At Hampshire we have a good cross section of Southampton and Portsmouth season ticket holders and there is a lot of good humoured banter. Rod would not be making this comment to try to gain anything. I am sure it would have been a comment made after an enquiry about Saints, just as I did. Rod is a Spurs supporter by the way.

His presence may have passed but his memory will last forever for Southampton Football Supporters like me who were privileged to see him play during his golden years of 1966 to 1970 in particular.

No idea

Yes it was for everything hence Cortese having a hissy fit. No one seems to know the final figure agreed upon. I was only reporting on the figure first put forward by the owners not the final figure.

I would not have posted it if it was b0llocks. Give me some credit!