Weston Saint

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!

I have the latest Chrome on a new Windows 8 Lap Top installed on Wednesday. No issues at all. Even the Echo loads without delay!

A decent source told me on Wednesday that Cortese was told to work to a £91M budget but after 5 days negotiation that was increased to both parties satisfaction. Remember, that includes everything and is to be balanced, as far as possible, by all income. Another source told me yesterday that whist his sympathies lie with Benali who was shoddily treated by the club, he could have settled his dispute 18 months ago and only boosted his settlement by a little amount (I will not say how much) Both are pretty reliable, one being on the staff and the other a former director of SFC.

Here is a thought for Alpine If we win next Sunday and all those up to West Ham 10th lose we will be 10th! Man City v Norwich - Home side will want to sign off well Newcastle v Arsenal - Away side will still be challenging for top 4 Swansea v Fulham - Home side may be relaxing but too much for poor away form team Tottenham v Sunderland - ditto Arsenal Wigan v Aston Villa - Home side pride as they return with FA cup (even though they will likely be relegated) West Ham v Reading - Could our old Manager give us one more boost? Just think where we have come from since out 10th game when we were leaking goals and only had 4 points. Plenty to do in the close season but we are on the right path. Well done to Salisbury too who return to Blue Square Conference (just one league away from PFC)

Lambert no longer English top scorer!

The only way to find out would be to contact the Council and enquire to check whether the specific piece of land where the car is parked is a public highway or private properly. If it is private property, then the vehicle can be kept there as SORN. However, if it is a public road maintained at the public expense, including grass verges and ground adjoining the road then the vehicle will need to be taxed.

Spoke to Mike Richards (ex Saints Director) on Sunday. Schneiderlin cost 1 million Euros and there was never any link to Arsenal in that signing.

Batting ok. Did well on Sunday. WK fair. Good stumping on Friday but also missed one. Has dropped at least one reasonable catch. Not a patch on Bates but ok. Batting is superior to Bates but the latter scored an unbeaten 179 for the seconds last week. He is pressing his claim to return