Sport Republic

[Willo of Whiteley]

I posted the below on April 10th in the SR new leaf thread:

I’m sure this’ll be merged in the ST thread soon, but let’s not gloss over this - Sport Republic have been a disaster.

The headlines a simple:
- 14th when they took over and a sustainable and desirable Premier League team.
- Two relegations within three of their four full seasons.
- The second worst Premier League finish in history, and the worst for us.

But they’ve invested money!
Let’s analyse that.

- They spent recklessly in their first full season, Romeo Lavia was the only success.
- They changed how they scout players from effectively scouts to a digital database that analyses them. This crop of intelligence scouted us gems such as Sekou Mara and Armel Bella-Kotchap.
- The wastefulness of their spending has seen a squad change more times, almost as much as Watford change managers.

Ah, the managers, there’s been some success there.
Bollocks…

Ralph Hassenhutl - excellent with Martin Semmens and his coaching team and not much money, good getting the best out of players. Probably not given any real say in transfers in SR first summer. Sacked, fail.
Nathan Jones - clown from a Welsh mining village who married a nice girl, made more enemies in as short a space of time as a dictator would. Sacked, the first of the glorious “Black Box Data Driven Appointments”. Sacked, fail.
Ruben Selles - damage limitation, appointed after a fluke win and subsequently led us downwards at the same time as Unai Emery was appointed by Villa. Sacked, fail.
Russell Martin - good appointment, promotion, but boring football at times, stubbornness cost him, naivety in the transfer window, and  should’ve done a lot better with the squad at his disposal. Sacked, but a pass.
Ivan Juric - heavy metal football? Heavy metal bullshit. Who’d have thought bringing in a defensive manager when you’re bottom of the league would keep you up? SR did. Sacked. Fail.
Will Still - Football Manager enthusiast, first big gig but stubbornness, lack of direction and leadership cost him massively. Big, big mistake from SR that will now potentially cost us promotion in what is a very weak Championship. Sacked, fail.
Now Tonda Eckhart - we all had low expectations, but let’s not beat around the bush, he was brought in for the U21’s, not the first team, and fair play to him for working wonders with the resources he’s got.

But surely SR have done well in other avenues?
Ah, ffs…

Goztepe, promotion holding their own and seemingly the only team benefitting from the glorious “multi-club model”. Albeit in the Turkish league they’ve done ok.

Valenciennes, “baby are you down” as the song goes, because that’s the way they’re heading too, and have been since the takeover. Chopping and changing of managers.

The ONLY positives I’ll give SR is the commercial side, so Level One, The Dell Bar, the matchday atmosphere outside the ground, all excellent. But that’s it.

Let’s not gloss over all this, SR get little backing from me until we’re at least back where we started when they took over.

Now to add:
Spying - and seemingly we’re shit at that too.
Another fantastic notch to add to their list of accomplishments during their time here.

String boycotts need to happen.

Demands of refunds.

Dont buy any more merchandise, season tickets etc.

Another humiliation. It’s like watching a live example of how not to run a business.

Regardless of whether the higher ups knew or not, this is on their watch.

[Osvaldorama]

Just when you thought they’d turned a corner…

 

They really do have to go now. This is too much. 

[SaintNewForest]

Embarrassment after Embarrassment with these. 

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

It takes some doing that SR have turned the best manager they have appointed into the worst manager in our history in just six months.

Fucking bravo lads.

They truly are the gift that keeps on giving, when you think they can't get any worse, they do this.

[Gloucester Saint]

Clear the debts by way of apology, get the club on the market by Friday at an attractive price and fuck off quickly.

Those are the only acceptable actions from Dragan Solak.

It’ll be many years if at all as to whether I engage again but at least it would finally show good faith to the city of my birth.

Edited 14 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Patrick Bateman]

STILL nothing on the fucking website.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Patrick Bateman said:

STILL nothing on the fucking website.

It's fucking ridiculous isn't it, they've even handled this part badly. I just can't put into words what is going on here. 

Is this part of an elaborate prank, or an episode of Ted Lasso or something? This would even be far fetched for that.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

It's fucking ridiculous isn't it, they've even handled this part badly. I just can't put into words what is going on here. 

Is this part of an elaborate prank, or an episode of Ted Lasso or something? This would even be far fetched for that.

The Hull Fixture has gone from the OS

Let me see if my refund is being processed

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

The Hull Fixture has gone from the OS

Let me see if my refund is being processed

Just noticed. All references to play off build up removed too. But still no statement.

Bonkers. What do they think silence is going to do here?

I remember when Lallana got hurt by naughty words said by that ref years ago, we threw an article on the OS same night saying we were appealing. Ditto when we said VVD had been spoken to illegally etc etc.

But we do go quiet when we're the ones in the wrong, stand up and own it you weak fuckers.  

[Pamplemousse]

Can someone lobby Rishi and his wife to make Dragan an offer he can't refuse?

Any other wealthy Southampton fans we know of?

[Turkish]

I can’t help but feel this is going to have huge repercussions internally. No way can Tonda and anyone else involved keep Their jobs, sounds like players are fuming so I’d expect them to be pushing for moves in the summer so it’s going to be a complete rebuild on and off the pitch. Where does the buck stop? Does it go all the way up to Parsons? It happened under his watch so he ultimately carries the can but will he lay it all on Spors for not knowing what his manager was doing?

Sounds like the club is screwed financially too without promotion so maybe even worse than that. 

[Patrick Bateman]

Just now, Pamplemousse said:

Can someone lobby Rishi and his wife to make Dragan an offer he can't refuse?

Any other wealthy Southampton fans we know of?

Just got to find someone who appreciates the New Forest, West Quay for shopping and being the biggest club on the South coast. Oh, hi Bournemouth in Europe ... FFS 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Turkish said:

I can’t help but feel this is going to have huge repercussions internally. No way can Tonda and anyone else involved keep Their jobs, sounds like players are fuming so I’d expect them to be pushing for moves in the summer so it’s going to be a complete rebuild on and off the pitch. Where does the buck stop? Does it go all the way up to Parsons? It happened under his watch so he ultimately carries the can but will he lay it all on Spors for not knowing what his manager was doing?

Sounds like the club is screwed financially too without promotion so maybe even worse than that. 

The buck stops with the entire ownership model for me. They need to sell up.

New owners in who can bring in their own people and build their own setup. The entire place is complicit in my eyes. There is talk about relegation for clearing the rot, but is that something we'd take next season if it meant we could start again? I have no idea what the future holds at this point.

[benjii]

Hard to put into words how fucking useless these cunts have been.

With decent financial backing, too!

Everything is in place for them and they cause disaster after disaster. 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The buck stops with the entire ownership model for me. They need to sell up.

New owners in who can bring in their own people and build their own setup. The entire place is complicit in my eyes. There is talk about relegation for clearing the rot, but is that something we'd take next season if it meant we could start again? I have no idea what the future holds at this point.

But that needs someone to buy us, we are probably one of the least attractive propositions in Europe right now!

[Toussaint]

6 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I can’t help but feel this is going to have huge repercussions internally. No way can Tonda and anyone else involved keep Their jobs, sounds like players are fuming so I’d expect them to be pushing for moves in the summer so it’s going to be a complete rebuild on and off the pitch. Where does the buck stop? Does it go all the way up to Parsons? It happened under his watch so he ultimately carries the can but will he lay it all on Spors for not knowing what his manager was doing?

Sounds like the club is screwed financially too without promotion so maybe even worse than that. 

Where did you get the players are fuming bit from, which sure they are. 

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

But that needs someone to buy us, we are probably one of the least attractive propositions in Europe right now!

Yep, absolutely. Selling is easier said than done, but I will always believe that containing with this lot will be a stain on us for ever. So Dragan needs to start putting the feelers out, he'll have to take a loss but that's his fault. We shouldn't be punished long term for their ineptitude. 

Interesting to know what Kat thinks of all this, although a minimal part, she is still a 'visible' person and part of the board. Liebherr are dragged into this too. Poor Markus is all I can say.

Edited 14 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Hamwic]

15 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

STILL nothing on the fucking website.

Unlikely to see anything until the appeal has finished. 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Where did you get the players are fuming bit from, which sure they are. 

A few posts on X (yes I know, I know) but you would be wouldn’t you. A seasons work ruined by some pricks with phones 

[Toussaint]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

A few posts on X (yes I know, I know) but you would be wouldn’t you. A seasons work ruined by some pricks with phones 

Yes, they have been totally undermined and made fools of. We won’t see any of the better ones in a Saints shirt again.

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

A few posts on X (yes I know, I know) but you would be wouldn’t you. A seasons work ruined by some pricks with phones 

Lots of detail around the players thoughts in the Athletic article as well. This has brought reputational damage to them as well, and footballers are 'brands' these days. It's all an absolute mess and I can sense this getting a hell of a lot worse. Law suits will be the order of the entire summer, forget transfers.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Lots of detail around the players thoughts in the Athletic article as well. This has brought reputational damage to them as well, and footballers are 'brands' these days. It's all an absolute mess and I can sense this getting a hell of a lot worse. Law suits will be the order of the entire summer, forget transfers.

If we’re found to be in breach of contract or broken some sort of regulation wonder if they could walk for free? Imagine the likes to Azaz and THB walking for nothing when we still owe tens of millions to the clubs we signed them from. It could actually put us into admin 

[Toussaint]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

Lots of detail around the players thoughts in the Athletic article as well. This has brought reputational damage to them as well, and footballers are 'brands' these days. It's all an absolute mess and I can sense this getting a hell of a lot worse. Law suits will be the order of the entire summer, forget transfers.

There could be legal actions in every direction -

Southampton supporters v SFC

coach companies 

hotels

Wembley v sfc

Hull v EFL

SFC v Middlesbrough 

SFC v EFL

Players V SFC

data breaches/ gdpr / slander / libel 

the list could be endless. I lot of people/ entities / parties have suffered economic loss or damage to reputation. 

What a mess. 

 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Turkish said:

If we’re found to be in breach of contract or broken some sort of regulation wonder if they could walk for free? Imagine the likes to Azaz and THB walking for nothing when we still owe tens of millions to the clubs we signed them from. It could actually put us into admin 

This is why I imagine there are the PFA angles being played out at the moment, players will be looking through their contracts for any little thing. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Players should’ve pulled their finger out at the start of the season

[Willo of Whiteley]

Imagine being a fly on the wall of the training ground today!

[Saintinnot]

Nows the time to mount a serious campaign to get these Fuckers out of our club.

How we do it I don't know ? Maybe a boycott of season tickets ? 

[S-Clarke]

They have been a disaster, anyone sticking up for them at all in this mess needs to have a long hard look at themselves.

They are the reason we were relegated from the Premier League after a decade due to incompetent scouting.

They are the reason we were relegated from the Premier League AGAIN on a record humiliation due to incompetent scouting and management.

They are the reason we have now been EXPELLED from the playoffs and face a 2nd year in a lower league.

We have gone through Ralph, Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric, Rusk, Still, Tonda.

We have gone through Joe Shields, Wilcox, Bitcon, Spors as DoF's.

All of this in, what, 4 years? 

They have destroyed every inch of what this club stood for and have tarnished us in ways I never felt was possible. Dragan and everyone associated need to pack up, get the fuck out, and never, ever, ever work in Football again.

I would implore the fans of Valenciennes and Goztepe to also join in this, as these people cannot be allowed to continue in football.

[Gloucester Saint]

12 hours ago, Turkish said:

It could actually put us into admin 

If it gets rid of Ankerson and Solak permanently then a price well worth paying. Confident the club would get a decent buyer but obviously L1 again. 

[Gloucester Saint]

28 minutes ago, Saintinnot said:

Nows the time to mount a serious campaign to get these Fuckers out of our club.

How we do it I don't know ? Maybe a boycott of season tickets ? 

The modern fanbase is SR’s poodle. 🐩 

Take your own action and those around you. If enough follow, the 14k zealots there was under Lowe soon get outnumbered and the bills are more than Dragan is willing to underwrite. 

Edited 49 minutes ago by Gloucester Saint

[Dr. Kucho]

When will the moment come that Dragan stops for a moment and thinks: “This purchase of SFC wasn’t the greatest deal I made, maybe the time has come to sell up and end this project”.

[sfc4prem]

32 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

They have been a disaster, anyone sticking up for them at all in this mess needs to have a long hard look at themselves.

They are the reason we were relegated from the Premier League after a decade due to incompetent scouting.

They are the reason we were relegated from the Premier League AGAIN on a record humiliation due to incompetent scouting and management.

They are the reason we have now been EXPELLED from the playoffs and face a 2nd year in a lower league.

We have gone through Ralph, Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric, Rusk, Still, Tonda.

We have gone through Joe Shields, Wilcox, Bitcon, Spors as DoF's.

All of this in, what, 4 years? 

They have destroyed every inch of what this club stood for and have tarnished us in ways I never felt was possible. Dragan and everyone associated need to pack up, get the fuck out, and never, ever, ever work in Football again.

I would implore the fans of Valenciennes and Goztepe to also join in this, as these people cannot be allowed to continue in football.

That's an impressive list. It feels like groundhog day. We've said this before, right? The fish rots from the head.

Tenure - Jan 2022 - date (May 2026). 4 years.

- 9th in PL to Championship playoff expulsion.

- 8 managers.

- 4 Directors of Football.

- Over £200m spent on players.

- Reputation tarnished.

 

 

 

[skintsaint]

Dragan either sells up or puts a football man at the head of Saints to sort it all out. Whats Levy upto these days...😅

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, Dr. Kucho said:

When will the moment come that Dragan stops for a moment and thinks: “This purchase of SFC wasn’t the greatest deal I made, maybe the time has come to sell up and end this project”.

Relegation from League 2.

[CB Fry]

Just an update. It is now May 2028 at the earliest before SR can reasonably say they have got us back to where we were when they found us.

[S-Clarke]

AI Gets it. Can we employ AI?

--------------------------------------------

For a lot of Saints fans, this probably feels like the final receipt for the whole Sport Republic era.

Not just:

“They made one catastrophic mistake.”

More like:

• relegation
• failed recruitment
• manager churn
• identity loss
• poor football decisions
• trust eroded
• fan disconnect
• now a governance scandal
• Wembley ripped away
• next season damaged before it starts

At some point, you stop seeing individual bad events and start seeing a pattern.

And that’s why “we’re sorry” won’t cut it. Because fans are not just angry about the punishment. They’re angry because the club has been drifting, mismanaged, and now humiliated.

The fans argument is basically:

• The ownership have lost the moral authority to lead the reset.

And I think that’s fair.

Because the same ownership group that presided over the decline can’t just say:

• “Trust us to rebuild.”

Why would fans trust them? The trust is gone.

A credible reset probably needs:

• Sport Republic to sell or bring in major new control
• board-level departures
• football operations rebuilt
• clear leadership structure
• new manager/head coach with authority
• fan reimbursement and compensation
• transparent investigation
• proper apology with consequences

Not a rebrand. Not a “new chapter” video with emotional piano music. Actual structural change.

Because if they stay, and just shuffle a few names around, supporters will see it as the same machine that broke the club asking for another chance to fix it.

And after this? That’s a hell of an ask.

Edited 4 minutes ago by S-Clarke

[SNSUN]

7 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Just an update. It is now May 2028 at the earliest before SR can reasonably say they have got us back to where we were when they found us.

And that is probably a best case scenario. I rather hope they're not fucking here by then though.