Who is NC ultimately answerable to?

[BadgerBadger]

It's Liebherr's family/legacy, which ultimately is success through an improvement on the investment which is directly related to success on the pitch.

 

It will be driven by his ideals which to date have done him proud. Problem is, do these ideals translate easily to football which has to be one of the most difficult industries to nail.

 

Can he achieve this objective short term?

 

It's going to be interesting to see how NC goes about creating this success and how it equates to what we as fans/paying customers expect.

 

He's trailblazing and it's going to be a very interesting ride as we have already seen.

I'm up for it, it's not going to be pretty and we're not going to be given the creedance we've had in the past but I'm well interested to see how it'll turns out!

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Me.

[bpsaint]

Are we likely to get an announcement as to who is ultimately responsible for ownership of the club? I know we are to assume the Liebherr family own it, but wouldn't that have meant they'd have had to of gone through a fit and proper test with the football league as technically Markus' passing would have made them new owners?

[sadoldgit]

God

[rick1976.4.38]

us the saints fans,we are sfc,without us he has nothing

[Saint_clark]

Are we likely to get an announcement as to who is ultimately responsible for ownership of the club? I know we are to assume the Liebherr family own it, but wouldn't that have meant they'd have had to of gone through a fit and proper test with the football league as technically Markus' passing would have made them new owners?

 

I may be wrong, but I thought the fit and proper persons test was only a Premier League thing.

[Eaststander]

Himself, and his conscience.

[stanthemanfairoak]

maybe some one should contact the liebherr`s and let them know who this little i tay man N C is really up to ?

[Fowllyd]

I may be wrong, but I thought the fit and proper persons test was only a Premier League thing.

 

No, the Football League has a similar test - we're still waiting with bated breath to see if Balram Chainrai is going to pass it. There was some discussion earlier this year between the two organisations about bringing their FAPP tests more closely into line with one another, but I can't recall the outcome.

[NickG]

I did read on here that Alpine was "demanding" more signings. The end of window approaches. No signings. Pardew gone. Makes you think.

[JustMike]

Are we likely to get an announcement as to who is ultimately responsible for ownership of the club? I know we are to assume the Liebherr family own it, but wouldn't that have meant they'd have had to of gone through a fit and proper test with the football league as technically Markus' passing would have made them new owners?

 

not too sure that the FL need a FAPPT but they certainly do need to know who the owner is as which came out of the Notts County mess

[Ashby Saint]

Me.

 

Well us actually, since individually we have no clout. If a business has no customers it will go bust but presumably the Liebherr family would change leadership before that happened.

[saintalan]

Presumably until its disharged it will be the Executors of his Estate, or the Swiss equivalent.

[stthrobber]

As far as I can remember, a company was set up with 3 directors to run SFC, one of those resigned leaving Markus and NC. So NC is the sole remaining director of that company and presumably can do what he likes.

 

My understanding is that he doesn't give two hoots what we as the fans expect regardless of our status as paying customers. We are in fact completely unimportant to him because he knows that football fan loyalty is a given, and if he ****es a few fans off on the way back to the Prem, then tough, there are others who will take their place in the stands.

 

NC is not a football man, he's a businessman (though presumably has never played hockey).

 

I was of course delighted when the club was saved, but I do not like many of the decisions that have come from him since his arrival. We have never been the press darlings or a fashionable club, but we do need friends in the media.

 

There are those out there who think he's untouchable because he saved us. Well, he didn't, Markus did and he brought in Il Duce 2 with him.

 

I know he hit the ground running etc, but he has a lot to learn about so many aspects of running a football club and I get the feeling he isn't interested in doing so

[Norm]

As far as I can remember, a company was set up with 3 directors to run SFC, one of those resigned leaving Markus and NC. So NC is the sole remaining director of that company and presumably can do what he likes.

 

My understanding is that he doesn't give two hoots what we as the fans expect regardless of our status as paying customers. We are in fact completely unimportant to him because he knows that football fan loyalty is a given, and if he ****es a few fans off on the way back to the Prem, then tough, there are others who will take their place in the stands.

 

NC is not a football man, he's a businessman (though presumably has never played hockey).

 

I was of course delighted when the club was saved, but I do not like many of the decisions that have come from him since his arrival. We have never been the press darlings or a fashionable club, but we do need friends in the media.

 

There are those out there who think he's untouchable because he saved us. Well, he didn't, Markus did and he brought in Il Duce 2 with him.

 

I know he hit the ground running etc, but he has a lot to learn about so many aspects of running a football club and I get the feeling he isn't interested in doing so

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really hope you are wrong, sadly, I don't think you are.

[Cricketphilly]

As far as I can remember, a company was set up with 3 directors to run SFC, one of those resigned leaving Markus and NC. So NC is the sole remaining director of that company and presumably can do what he likes.

 

My understanding is that he doesn't give two hoots what we as the fans expect regardless of our status as paying customers. We are in fact completely unimportant to him because he knows that football fan loyalty is a given, and if he ****es a few fans off on the way back to the Prem, then tough, there are others who will take their place in the stands.

 

NC is not a football man, he's a businessman (though presumably has never played hockey).

 

I was of course delighted when the club was saved, but I do not like many of the decisions that have come from him since his arrival. We have never been the press darlings or a fashionable club, but we do need friends in the media.

 

There are those out there who think he's untouchable because he saved us. Well, he didn't, Markus did and he brought in Il Duce 2 with him.

 

I know he hit the ground running etc, but he has a lot to learn about so many aspects of running a football club and I get the feeling he isn't interested in doing so

 

I could disect this tirade if bothered but it's far too early!

[Joensuu]

stthrobber, why resort to using a fabricated straw man argument: nobody on here thinks Cortese is beyond criticism (many feel we don't yet have enough evidence to criticise, and some have rightly pointed out that Cortese is really the only link to the Leibherr family left, shouldn't we be a bit more cautious in pointing a finger?). However, I'm sure several other posters will wheel out the same straw dummy over the next few days.

 

Oh, and BTW, you shoot yourself in the foot when you refer to Cortese as 'el Duce'... Just because the tabloids use such extreme and inaccurate analogies, why should we stoop to their level?

[Weston Saint]

Just as Alan Pardew has gone, if Nicola Cortese does not meet the requirements of the Liebherr family owners or his actions tarnish their personal or business image he too will be gone. He is answerable to them and they are not fools.

 

The question should be, if Cortese is discharged, will the club be sold or a new Chairman/CEO brought in? You can bet Cortese will be acutely aware of what is expected of him in the coming months and years.

[docker-p]

us the saints fans,we are sfc,without us he has nothing

This is exactly right.

But with the legacy of ML's money does he even need us? He's certainly going about things in a way that suggests he doesn't give a flying uck about Saints fans or the clubs heritage, nor local businesses nor the press.

We don't half pick 'em.

[dune]

As far as I can remember, a company was set up with 3 directors to run SFC, one of those resigned leaving Markus and NC. So NC is the sole remaining director of that company and presumably can do what he likes.

 

My understanding is that he doesn't give two hoots what we as the fans expect regardless of our status as paying customers. We are in fact completely unimportant to him because he knows that football fan loyalty is a given, and if he ****es a few fans off on the way back to the Prem, then tough, there are others who will take their place in the stands.

 

NC is not a football man, he's a businessman (though presumably has never played hockey).

 

I was of course delighted when the club was saved, but I do not like many of the decisions that have come from him since his arrival. We have never been the press darlings or a fashionable club, but we do need friends in the media.

 

There are those out there who think he's untouchable because he saved us. Well, he didn't, Markus did and he brought in Il Duce 2 with him.

 

I know he hit the ground running etc, but he has a lot to learn about so many aspects of running a football club and I get the feeling he isn't interested in doing so

 

I think you're spot on with your assessment. I do not for one moment doubt that Nicole has Southampton FC's best interests at heart, but what he considers to be the "the club" and what I consider to be "the club" is different. I consider "the Club" to be everyone and everything associated with the club - that is the founding principle of a Club of any description, but Nicole only has an inward looking approach and an inward looking attitude. He has got it all wrong, and he doesn't understand the business of football. He is incompetent, bombastic, big headed and well on his way to one almighty fall.

[docker-p]

Just as Alan Pardew has gone, if Nicola Cortese does not meet the requirements of the Liebherr family owners or his actions tarnish their personal or business image he too will be gone. He is answerable to them and they are not fools.

 

The question should be, if Cortese is discharged, will the club be sold or a new Chairman/CEO brought in? You can bet Cortese will be acutely aware of what is expected of him in the coming months and years.

I'm sure the family are not fools. However are they intersted?

ML was worth billions, his money will be invested in all manner of companies of which SFC will be one very small part. They don't live in the UK, they may not be football fans, i don't know, it would be easy for SFC to drop off their rada and NC to continue relatively unchecked.

[Saint Billy]

Just as Alan Pardew has gone, if Nicola Cortese does not meet the requirements of the Liebherr family owners or his actions tarnish their personal or business image he too will be gone. He is answerable to them and they are not fools.

 

The question should be, if Cortese is discharged, will the club be sold or a new Chairman/CEO brought in? You can bet Cortese will be acutely aware of what is expected of him in the coming months and years.

 

This is how I see, after all the Leibherr familly own the club, Cortese does not, which makes him answerable to them.

[Topcat]

According to Wikipedia

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_F.C.#Non-playing_staff

 

Executive Directors Nicola Cortese (Executive Chairman), David Jones (Company Secretary)

 

According to the Saints website, Les Reed also has the title of Executive Director.

[stthrobber]

Tirade? do me a favour. I'm just offering an opinion.

[stthrobber]

It's not a fabricated straw man argument, it's my opinion which you can argue with, ignore or do what you like.

 

However, it is a fact that I do not like the decisions that have been made in the last year that affect me as a fan, and other friends who are also fans.

 

It is a fact that fans have been hit with a £3 ticket levy, it is a fact that the installment plan for ST holders was abolished, it is also a fact that Mr Cortese has been losing the club a lot of friends both in the media and at other clubs.

 

So I don't see the need to be cautious when pointing a finger.

 

The only thing I will say as speculation surrounds the decision to sack Alan Pardew. All we have there are rumours, but in his short time at the club, he had the highest win per match ratio of any Saints manager (I stand to be corrected on this). Some of our football has been great and he has brought in some bloody good players for our level and one or two for a level above.

 

If NC brings in a manager of a higher calibre than the one he sacked, then I will offer hearty congratulations, but until then I am entitled to criticise backed up by the evidence of the last few months.

 

I actually christened NC Nicolowe some time ago and got a histrionic reaction from some fans on Saintslist, but it was merely a joke as is Il Duce 2, and if it's okay to call Rupert Lowe derogatory names then NC is equally fair game imo.

[dune]

However, it is a fact that I do not like the decisions that have been made in the last year that affect me as a fan, and other friends who are also fans.

 

It is a fact that fans have been hit with a £3 ticket levy, it is a fact that the installment plan for ST holders was abolished, it is also a fact that Mr Cortese has been losing the club a lot of friends both in the media and at other clubs.

 

So I don't see the need to be cautious when pointing a finger.

 

Nail On Head. Ever since Cortese decided it was fine to rip me off i've been against him, and I make no apology for that.

[DS]

Peter Storrie.

[Cricketphilly]

Tirade? do me a favour. I'm just offering an opinion.

 

Or rhetoric?

[solentstars]

It's not a fabricated straw man argument, it's my opinion which you can argue with, ignore or do what you like.

 

However, it is a fact that I do not like the decisions that have been made in the last year that affect me as a fan, and other friends who are also fans.

 

It is a fact that fans have been hit with a £3 ticket levy, it is a fact that the installment plan for ST holders was abolished, it is also a fact that Mr Cortese has been losing the club a lot of friends both in the media and at other clubs.

 

So I don't see the need to be cautious when pointing a finger.

 

The only thing I will say as speculation surrounds the decision to sack Alan Pardew. All we have there are rumours, but in his short time at the club, he had the highest win per match ratio of any Saints manager (I stand to be corrected on this). Some of our football has been great and he has brought in some bloody good players for our level and one or two for a level above.

 

If NC brings in a manager of a higher calibre than the one he sacked, then I will offer hearty congratulations, but until then I am entitled to criticise backed up by the evidence of the last few months.

 

I actually christened NC Nicolowe some time ago and got a histrionic reaction from some fans on Saintslist, but it was merely a joke as is Il Duce 2, and if it's okay to call Rupert Lowe derogatory names then NC is equally fair game imo.

 

thats how i see it,he has not a clue about customer service and communication despite trying to rubbish and spin anyone who disagrees with him.

[kpturner]

but in his short time at the club, he had the highest win per match ratio of any Saints manager (I stand to be corrected on this)

Don't you think that may be something to do with the fact that he was managing the team in a lower league (with money to spend) than any other manager ....at least in my living memory?

[stthrobber]

Or rhetoric?

 

No, just an opinion. I don't do rhetoric, I ain't Saddam Hussain y'know.

[Joensuu]

It's not a fabricated straw man argument, it's my opinion which you can argue with, ignore or do what you like.

 

So are you saying that somebody has actually suggested that Cortese is above criticism? If they have, they're wrong, if nobody has then you are creating a straw man to fight.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man?wasRedirected=true

 

So I don't see the need to be cautious when pointing a finger.

You don't think that we might be best waiting for some evidence before making criticism?

 

The only thing I will say as speculation surrounds the decision to sack Alan Pardew. All we have there are rumours, but in his short time at the club, he had the highest win per match ratio of any Saints manager (I stand to be corrected on this). Some of our football has been great and he has brought in some bloody good players for our level and one or two for a level above.

I wish we could test these things with a placebo. In this league with this much money to spend what win ratio would a monkey with a typewriter acheive? What I mean is it's hard to lose with the resourses at our disposal. Pardew certainly wasn't exceptional, i'd warrent that Wigley could have got a win ratio upwards of 50%. Pardew was 'okay', he didn't excel or exceed expectations.

 

I actually christened NC Nicolowe some time ago and got a histrionic reaction from some fans on Saintslist, but it was merely a joke as is Il Duce 2, and if it's okay to call Rupert Lowe derogatory names then NC is equally fair game imo.

 

Don't you think not calling either derogatory names might be a better solution?

[stthrobber]

Don't you think that may be something to do with the fact that he was managing the team in a lower league (with money to spend) than any other manager ....at least in my living memory?

 

It may well be, but the fact is that without a pre-season to prepare last year and inheriting a team of losers, he turned things around, brought in better players and instilled a winning mentality. Even ignoring a day out at Wembley and the club's first silverware etc, we were where we were after all the turmoils surrounding relegation and administration.

 

Pardew took the step down and could have fallen flat on his backside. After all, Brian Little and Peter Taylor haven't exactly prospered since leaving top clubs and going lower league have they?

 

However, his win ratio suggests that we were on the right track whatever division we are in and I'm sorry he was sacked, even though he wasn't my first choice for the job in the first place.

[kpturner]

I'm sorry he was sacked, even though he wasn't my first choice for the job in the first place.

I am sorry that he was sacked because it has taken the wind out of the sails. However, my disappointment is tempered by the fact that there may be a very good reason for it that we don't know about....leaving NC with little choice. I don't believe he would have sacked three people crucial to the first team (without an immediate set of replacements waiting in the wings) unless he had no alternative course of action.

[Isabel Healey]

I am afraid I have to agree with this comment, because although I am gutted that he has gone,( for the same reasons as stthrobber), we just do not know what has gone on !!

I am sorry that he was sacked because it has taken the wind out of the sails. However, my disappointment is tempered by the fact that there may be a very good reason for it that we don't know about....leaving NC with little choice. I don't believe he would have sacked three people crucial to the first team (without an immediate set of replacements waiting in the wings) unless he had no alternative course of action.

[stthrobber]

So are you saying that somebody has actually suggested that Cortese is above criticism? If they have, they're wrong, if nobody has then you are creating a straw man to fight.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man?wasRedirected=true

 

You don't think that we might be best waiting for some evidence before making criticism?

 

I wish we could test these things with a placebo. In this league with this much money to spend what win ratio would a monkey with a typewriter acheive? What I mean is it's hard to lose with the resourses at our disposal. Pardew certainly wasn't exceptional, i'd warrent that Wigley could have got a win ratio upwards of 50%. Pardew was 'okay', he didn't excel or exceed expectations.

 

 

 

Don't you think not calling either derogatory names might be a better solution?

 

Yes, I have seen plenty of people on this very forum tell others that NC saved the club and we shouldn't criticise. I seem to remember Docker-p replying to one such person the other day.

 

I notice that you completely ignore the points I mentioned about the ST installment plan and 3 quid ticket tax before asking for evidence.

 

The evidence is out there, you just have to want to see it. Even when I gave a few salient facts you seem to ignore it.

 

I suppose you aren't by any chance Nicola Cortese yourself are you?

[Joensuu]

Yes, I have seen plenty of people on this very forum tell others that NC saved the club and we shouldn't criticise. I seem to remember Docker-p replying to one such person the other day.

 

I notice that you completely ignore the points I mentioned about the ST installment plan and 3 quid ticket tax before asking for evidence.

 

The evidence is out there, you just have to want to see it. Even when I gave a few salient facts you seem to ignore it.

 

I suppose you aren't by any chance Nicola Cortese yourself are you?

 

I wish! Getting paid a fortune to run the Saints... But then. I guess it's a bit of a poisioned chalice, what with some of the fanbase wanting to undermine your every effort.

 

I haven't seen anyone say that Cortese is above criticism. If they have they are obviously wrong. I do think we should remember that Cortese holds the purse strings... we are in an excellent position in the grand scheme of things, without Cortese onboard we would probably find ourselves a lot worse off.

 

I don't agree with either the £3 booking fee, nor with the lack of an installment plan, but I can see sensible business reasons behind both decisions, and annoying as they might seem, they don't provide evidence relating to either a problem behind the scenes, nor, (in the context of our 'finger pointing' discussion) to the reason behind Pardew's departure. All I'm saying is that everything that we have evidence for can be explained as sensible behaviour for a business, all the negative anti-Cortese rumour is unsubstantiated, and until there is evidence indicating that Cortese has made a mistake I think it is sensible to keep our powder dry. I don't know whether Cortese is making sensible or irrational decisions, but without more information I think it would be rash of us to jump to conclusions.