Weston Saint

Important game today. Hants win the toss and will bowl - dry but overcast Hants team: Adams, Dawson, Carberry, McKenzie, Vince, Ervine, Mascarenhas, Bates, Wood, Tomlinson, Tahir Somerset: Barrow, Suppiah, Hildreth, Jones, Trego, Meschede, Snell, Thomas, Kartik, Kirby, Willoughby Jos Butler with england today but will replace Snell tomorrow.

Ali has a year left on his initial 3 year contract. Simon Jones has a year left on his agreement which was a mixture of a regular contract and pay as you play. I expected to see Jones in the squad against Somerset after a conversation I was involved in with Rod B yesterday. Riazuddin is included which is pleasing. Reward for a decent display yesterday? Ali still had a bandage round his knee and was clearly not yet fit. Briggs continues to be rested which is sensible. He will have a big part to play next season.

Good clinical win yesterday and good to see Hampshire looked up for it throughout the game Adams – 30 Ravenscroft – 19 Vince – 21 Carberry – 30 Dawson – 21 Howell – 22 Wood – 21 Riazuddin – 22 Bates – 20 Briggs – 20 Griffiths – 26 So two 30 year olds, a 26 year old and the rest 22 or under is good for our future but we need to have the experience as well if we are going to claw our way out of Div 2. If Yorkshire come down they will have a strong squad to return. Also Surrey have a good young squad who have been together for a while and beginning to gel. Of the under 22's Vince, Wood, Bates and Briggs should be starters. Hopefully there will be a place for Dawson and Howell bound to be a squad player. My starting 11 (some difficult choices to get it down to 11) Adams Carberry Katich (if he is our overseas player and captain) McKenzie (if we can afford to offer him a contract) Vince Ervine or Dawson or Howell Mascarenhas Wood Bates Briggs Tomlinson Griffiths I think Jones may feature along with Ali if they can get and stay fit but I am leaving them out of the equasion I am discounting Cork and Pothas as retiring (no knowledge of that at present) Balcombe is a decent bowler but is very unlucky with injuries that seem to plague him so although he will be a squad player I do not think he will break into to regular 11. Ravenscroft and Rouse are a little way off but they are only 19. Limited over blooding may happen next season though. Riazaddin in my opinion is at the crossroads. He needs to break into the side or look of another county. He has enough talent to make it as a professional cricketer. Miller is a spin bowler who may break into the side through the 1 dayers next season but I have not seen him playing. He is thought well off by the coaches. I would not expect us to retain our "Kolpac" players New signings? No whispers yet other than Katich preliminary talks. We have tried Foster and O'Brien as wicket keepers but they have signed for their existing counties. Of couse if we do survive, and we still could!!!! I suspect we will bring experienced players in to strengthen.

I think you might have forgotten he was given new contract until 2014 during the close season. You do not do that if you do not expect him to be playing again!!!

But it is an insult for you to change his name in such a derogatory manner. You lose all respect

Question? Was Seaborne poor? Was he at fault for the goals? Can someone tell me what he did wrong?

Somerset favourites

Very frustrating day. Water got under the covers overnight. Repairs carried out but it was not drying. Umpires kept going out every half an hour and in discussions with the groundstaff and Captains. Clear Worcestershire wanted it to start, Hampshire less so. Umpires trying to be fair. Looked like our ground staff had enough and were convinced it would not dry but the umpires kept them working. Cork started to look disinterested in playing and the team started packing for their trip to Warwickshire. I left just before 4pm when the umpires were dithering again! As for the resumption, a good maiden 50 from Wood. Why did we not make them bat the final few overs? Not enough time for us to bowl them out even though the wicket turning both ways for Immy. After Worcester failed to get us out quickly they would have just shut up shop and maintain the gap between us. Hampshire were also keen to get away to Warwickshire. Weather was the winner here. Could have been a good contest otherwise.

He will be our overseas player and available for the whole season. I suspect he will be captain and a good one at that with Adams as vice captain but nothing is decided with Katich yet. Dellman, all the top clubs have an decent overseas player not only to strengthen the side but pass on their experience and skill to the up coming players. Nthing wrong with that. Remember Bates, Dawson, Vince, Briggs, Wood are all 20 or 21 and have plenty of time to develop. It is all about balance and we are losing the experience of Lumb despite him not figuring much the last 2 seasons. Katich is probably one of the best batsmen in the world not playing test cricket. He will give it 100% if he comes.

Do you speak to the Chairman like I do regularly? You might withdraw these comments about local talent if you did.

Firstly Ali, Jones, De Wet and Mybergh have hardly played so they cannot be clogging up the team. I think Cork will go at the end of the season. There was a suggestion he might be going to Essex but there is nothing known about this. I think he will retire to take up a job with Sky. alternatively if the Essex connection has legs it might be as bowling coach but unlikely as a player. Not sure about Pothas. He has been a great servant to the club but he seems to be coming to the end of his career. Wood looks like he might be the future number 8, a bowler who can bat a bit (similar to the Cork role. Briggs will no doubt be our spinner next season Bates is a problem. He is clearly one of the best wicket keepers in the country but his batting is still not there. However he is only 20 so time for him. Now adays you need to have a wicket keeper who can bat at least at number 6. All other county sides have them. If you put Bates lower because he cannot bat you need to strenghten the batting to compensate and that means sacrificing a bowler and that creates its own problems. It is all about balance. Unfortunately Pothas has not been doing it with the bat this season either and I think that is why Hampshire were looking elsewhere for an experienced keeper who has a good batting track record to give Bates time to develope his batting. Today's 2nd innings was a disaster but the ball is moving off the seam and in the air. Woods bowling after lunch was excellent as was Tahir. Tomorrow the weather may be a problem but if we can get another 75 to 100 then I fancy us to bowl them out for a win. There is plenty of movement and the wicket will take more spin for Tahir. All is not lost yet! This is not a poor wicket. No sign of any pitch inspector. Off the field we are still talking to the ECB about payment and at the moment they are sympathetic to our reasons. Despite what might have been reported in the press the 2014 India test at the RoseBowl is not at risk and we are still in consideration, with the others, for Tests still to be allocated. October will be the decision announcements. Contracts are still being drawn up for the remainder of the development which WILL go ahead. Ground Naming sponsership is also seperately being negotiated but still in confidentiality and discussion stage at present. No news on our overseas player for next season but discussions with Katich have taken place.

Did some digging today with someone who would know. Gave him a copy of the tweets. He said most of it was rubbish, particularly the wages. HR was on more that Clifford and Sir Clive. Clifford was not earning or offered the figures he quoted. Does not believe Lowe paid any part out of his own pocket either but he is going to ask him. Lowe and Cowan's vision for Saints were left with the club papers when they left and readily available to the new owners. There were no plans to invest in the Academy structure the way the present owners have and there was no plan to employ a Les Reid type position. My contact has no axe to grind and has been very open with me in the past.

Wrong answer Steve

Yes it was.

There was this guy from Netherlands acting as Lowe's advisor on football. He told Lowe to get Forecast in and tie him to a long contract. Our Goalkeeper Coach at that time was heard to say soon after that Forecast would not make a professional goalkeeper, did not have a clue and was a waste of time. Soon after the coach was on gardening leave never to return. I think Pulis was the only way Lowe could offload the expensively paid injury that was Davies.

Here is a novel thought. Could this just be the plan Lowe & Co put together to obtain investment and when none came in and the club went tits up a certain group of individuals such as C & O used it as a blue print for the future. For a while I have thought the similarities with which Lowe wanted to go (Sir Clive excluded) is uncanny!!! A plan was floated around just before Administration, in high circles.

The young players loved them. Even wanted extra time with them. The older players did not. The latter may have been influenced by the Manager & Coaches if Clifford's tweets are true! I will pass a copy of the tweets to an ex Director I should be dining with sometime this week to see what he has to say.

No wonder Cortese kicked out all the previous club officials if Clifford's tweets are factual (and as HR had said as much to a friend of mine at the time he was still Manager I think it has legs). There is plenty of evidence that football contains many who are milking the game and we the supporters are paying for it in part. I was angry the way HR treated us during his term as Manager. He seemed always to talk about them rather than us. I can see why now. He was being undermined throughout. Thank God we now have a regime in place that appear to be putting this right in SFC.

Correct. I have nothing to say

Part 2 Had I been Harry and co I would have hated me too, I did not know until I spoke to Kevin Bond 2 years ago that a month before I arrived Clive had called a meeting to tell the staff that 'the best coach in the world was coming to teach them', that did not help me at all. Clive and I were also paid more than the manager which was leaked pre me coming, Dave Bassett was only on £50,000. Jim Smith had been the same, I would have been not very happy I did not know what they were on, my salary kept increasing every time I said no. It was not the money I said no on, it all sounded daft. In any event my salary was to be paid to my soccer schools that do not make profit. I was also told to criticise the players and interviews set up so I could in order that we got the players or a particular coach to leave. This was not Rupert, then I copped for it. I was also in my contract allowed to be still running my other operations. Even when we had the team. They should never have agreed to that and I could not believe they did, I hoped they would refuse So I was on £300,000 a year in the season before we could take over. Worked one hour of a morning Monday to Thursday did 2 hours Tuesday and Wednesday night. In total 8 hours a week, I flew home each Thursday on the 1.20 pm to Leeds. I tried to do more work, but I was told to go and relax. Clive bought an apartment and never stayed in it. I said from week 2 I felt we were stealing from the club at our wages and was not comfortable. The only other thing I did while there was I did Clive's session plans and course work for his badges, sorry to saints fans, it was truly a shambles. The daftness like letting me carry on with my schools Rupert was against and got outvoted, in retrospect they and I could name each board member, every minute and meeting, the silly things were not RL, the board had three factions

Here is the full trascript for those interested In answer to an article on the OS regarding invite to football scholarships. Futsal is a load of rubbish. A far better training technique, Futebol de Salao was introduced to your club in 2005. FDS brings 7.54 touches a minute, Futsal 2.6. Some of the youth coaches you had and still have are among the very worst I have seen in football. Malcolm Elias your youth scout was a masterstroke in Rupert bringing him. Every scholar I worked with had a home phone number outside of Southampton and had been bought in. If that does not tell you something about Huw Jennings and his coaches, nothing will. I have never met a man as unsuited to a role improving young players. I told Rupert that after one conversation with him I did not rate him at all. He went to be Head of all the Academies at The premier League. He may be good, I just cannot see what at. He is now Head of something at Nike talking a lot on videos as his team travels around losing matches here there and everywhere. Anyone I mentioned academically, development wise the man had never heard of. All the best to your club, forget me or Clive. the real genius you had their was Rupert and some idiots chased him out. Study where that group that Clive and I had each morning and evening and see where they are now. Only 16 then yet all Championship or EPL, very rare that % Our credit nil, we were not there long enough to impact, but Rupert's 100%, you were never in the red under his watch also In answer to a question from a Saints Fan A failure, it was a complete disaster. I thought I could do a job and I could not. I was unable too. I will tell you this though I was the only member of your backroom staff who did not take any money from the club. Rupert said I had grounds for a claim of a year's salary due to some nonsense. I said I deserve what I have done, 2 months 11 days and I gave the money to SVP society. Rupert called me the most honest man he has met in football as a result. Clive told me to sit tight and take the money, I did not. Clive stayed, went once a week after I left and saw it through to May to get his cheque. I refused and I was on £300,000. £250,000 from your club and £25,000 each from Rupert and Clive. I agree in the fans and the regime. I just wish that people had really knew Rupert, I thought as you did before I got to know him, exactly the same view. Anyway, deep down I do wish Saints well, always will. I thought the whole thing was crackers, I had no experience at that level, Clive was Rugby. Clive sold Rupert a manifesto that had doubts about and said no 5 times. Clive convinced me that he was in with the FA and within 3 years we could have the England team, Clive said he had a dream about it!. In reality he was mates with Palios and Rupert was on 2 key boards. We signed and had contracts to be joint management as of season 2006/07. We thought when we signed that this would be EPL. I was the one who stopped that date being season 2005/06 Our deals had been agreed long before we arrived. That was silly. I insisted that we must have the reserves that year and at least prove some experience. I was told by Clive we would after 2 months of being told that I was getting the reserves 'next week' and then let's sit back and take the money comment, I was off! We could not possibly have even a prayer without having the reserves, starting the coming August. I stood up for Clive when he would not for himself, but he hid too often, I love him as a man, but he is no leader and the man in the book 'winning' does not exist in reality. I had a 2 hr skype with Rupert last week, I know he will never win you over but he's not bad. If any doubt anything I have said it's all completely accurate and I would stand by it in court. I was a failure though Simon Clifford

Chris, as he has said he will defend what he has said in court can you do an article on it here so we can all see what he says. It fits with something HR said to a friend of mine at dinner when he was still Saints Manager.

All over Hants win. Now for Worcestershire on Tuesday.

They needed 308 to win and we have them at 45 for 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another gone 113/6 but Woakes striding to the wicket!!!!!!