There was an article, I think in the Sunday Times, about the 50 most powerful women in sport recently. I was actually surprised not to see Katherina in there.
Hope we sign these identical twins [video=youtube;VHMi-j7W2gM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHMi-j7W2gM[/video]
For those who haven't yet seen it - here is Ralph Krueger's first interview as Chairman of Southampton Football Club... [video=youtube;qp6LYZ83G9M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6LYZ83G9M&feature=youtu.be[/video]
So Ralph Krueger is now the Chairman with Gareth Rogers in the current position of Acting CEO. Do we still think that John Williams will arrive in the summer to complete the boardroom reshuffle and bring the football knowledge to the board?
No. I would doubt that. The chairman position is filled, which I'd imagine would have been the one he was interested in.
Williams was both CEO and Chairman at Blackburn, so I'd not totally say that's unlikely. The official statement references that Gareth remains in his role of Acting CEO.
Some quotes from Simon Peach, who had a 70 minute lunch with Krueger today... Newly-appointed #SaintsFC chairman Ralph Krueger says owner Katharina Liebherr has "zero" intention of selling the club Krueger dismissed talk Liebherr looking for a quick sell, saying #SaintsFC "has become a very important priority for her. She cares." Krueger recently turned down five opportunities to return to the NHL & is confident of turning #SaintsFC into a "healthy sports model" He believes #SaintsFC have "unlimited potential" & keen to make home-grown focus key marketing point. Coy when asked about keeping players. Krueger suggested the #NFL's "sentimental favourites" Green Bay Packers was the kind of unique marketing position #SaintsFC could fill Krueger told me finishing training ground was "priority one" & looking at expanding/improving St Mary's second behind that.
Krueger speaks to the BBC about taking the Chairman's role at Southampton: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26545313
keen to make home-grown focus key marketing point. Coy when asked about keeping players _________________________________ Wow, he gets my vote.
Well I would interpret this as meaning that we will keep our best Academy graduates and sell the rest, as we have done with Corby Moore. Les Reed said the other night that loaning youth players wasn't on the agenda, so the good ones will train with the first team until the time for blooding them arrives. If they don't reach the point where they are good enough, they will be released or sold. At least, that is what I hope it means!
He has identified our reputation as a producer of home grown players as our unique selling point when getting businesses interested in sponsoring us. Wouldn't read too much into the statement about being coy about keeping players...not in a position to make promises, after all things change all the time. He won't want to get caught out. Doesn't mean we are rushing to sell, but it is always possible that a sale makes sense...not only from a monetary viewpoint but from a football angle. For example...MP may say I'd like to keep Player A, but if we sell I'd like Player B and C. The most important thing is that we are not for sale and KL wants us to continue to improve.
"Coy when asked about keeping players" is simply because he doesn't know, just as he was coy about Pochettino's future. I'd rather he be coy than just tell us everything's fine when he doesn't know. If we keep progressing, they will want to stay, if we don't, they may want to leave. But I don't think anyone is leaving imminently.
Is he saying we will forever be a "selling" club? Also "Krueger suggested the #NFL's "sentimental favourites" Green Bay Packers was the kind of unique marketing position #SaintsFC could fill" I want to qualify for Europe and maybe win a trophy. Not just forever be the neutrals favorite plucky underdog team, for ****s sake.
