One thing I do know for certain. I was in the queue behind him this morning when he was signing on at the JobCentre and he was distraught to find that he won't get benefits for quite a while as he's voluntarily given up his job. Very angry and upset. Threw a chair at the woman behind the desk and was escorted out by security. Vin
Wouldn't worry over much about him not committing himself further than his contract...he said much the same thing when he was asked a few weeks back if he would sign a new contract. Obviously things are more up the air than if Nicola stayed, so of course he is really only looking at this season. Enjoyed his little bits of humour...when asked about the team for Saturday, his reply 'Why, is that important?' Then asked about Nicola's vision...'He had the vision to bring me in.' I also liked the fact that NC asked him to win on Saturday (brought a tear to the eye).
Just got off the phone with my newly acquired friend on Saints matters and I mentioned my three thoughts from today, ie, Cortese is reported as being interested in staying in England and English football; has encouraged staff to stay; and that he has contacts with real money. It was suggested that I keep thinking that way because it is entirely possible, perhaps even probable. Mind you, he got it wrong about yesterday. Come to think about it.. no he didn't. Hmm.
If there is such thing as fate, Cortese's words should allow us to win on Saturday, or is that tempting fate?
The idea is pretty fanciful. As I said earlier, even if the club is sold (and there's no suggestion from anyone who matters that it will be), what owner would put Cortese in charge? It would have to be someone who is happy to put a lot of money in and not have any control. Markus Liebherr put in a relatively minor amount (certainly much less than it would cost to buy the club now) and he probably had more influence over Cortese than anyone else would have. Assuming he'd even want to come back, which we don't know, is it even desirable to have him back? I have as much respect for what he's done for us as anyone, but all the good things he did are still here. Anyone who is appointed by Katharina Liebherr will have to share power with Reed and the other board members, so I can't see anyone undoing that good work anytime soon. Maybe a more democratic approach to running the club is the right thing now.
I agree with your post PTF. My only reservation of not having Mr Cortese here is that I could interpret "democratic" as, 'putting the breaks on' or stalling. One thing we can't deny is that things were done differently; they got done and I only hope that we carry on in the same upward curve. Standing still doesn't happen.
So according to the conspiracy theory, Cortese was told he could not continue to wield the wide-ranging power (more than any normal Chairman) he had at Saints, seeing how he was essentially being given the key to the cash vault but it wasn't his cash. In response to this perceived affront, he has hatched a plan to take over the club himself so that he can once again run the club with an iron fist. Unfortunately, he cannot wrest the club from the rightful owner as she has no wish to sell. Or at least not to him. Therefore he has quit the club, in an attempt to throw everything in turmoil and causing us to lose all of our best players and.or fall down the league-- thereby driving down the price of the club so that KL will no longer want it... at which point he can come in with his sneaky band of backers and buy the club. And you would want Cortese back.... why?
That's quite right, he did get things done, but he inherited a club with no organisational structure to speak of. He had to shake things up, but the new chairman (whoever that might be) only needs to be a steady hand on the rudder. We need someone who believes in the future of the club and won't entertain the idea of losing our best players, but we already have people like that at the club now. It would have to be a truly disastrous appointment to upset the structures that Cortese put in place.
Probably as much chance of Markus coming back. Besides anything, no one really likes going backwards - it's never the same, for either party. Agree with the democratic approach - but can imagine that £20m on the table is a lot harder to refuse when it's not one man's staunch vision - will always be someone in a group who wants to take the money. Whereas NC had a very staunch point of view on this, influenced no doubt by his regret at the Ox sale, but also by his vision of Saints as a non-selling club, and CL contenders.
I know you are lying because of this bit highlighted above. He would have stared at her with piercing eyes and the next day she would have found a horses head on her desk
Someone who wants to own a football club, rather than someone who wants to run one. It's hardly unusual in sport to have a strong executive who is answerable to the ownership, without being the owner. We'll see. The thing holding this together was the belief that it would continue to higher levels, and much of that has been ascribed to Cortese. It's going to be very difficult for a democratic committee of whoever to inspire the same faith in the project.
Stop it, I agree with you again However, what I am trying to say, or ask, is that although the structures are in place, a steady hand won't necessarily drive us forward at the same pace. I don't want someone to hold the rudder, I want someone to keep their foot on the accelerator. One issue we may (emphasise MAY) have, is that Cortese was fairly dictator like and with that style, sometimes they became the only person really making decisions. If this was true, we'd be left with some good caretakers not drivers. Fingers crossed.
Well no. The first part has it right, but he isn't leaving to destabilise the club and drive value down. He's leaving because he'd be unable to front at rival consortium bid whilst in his position as chairman. It's not completely inconceivable. Unlikely, yes, but not inconceivable.
