Hi, just watched the Chairman's Message video on SaintsPlayer (the same one shown pre-tournament yesterday), and thought I would relay the main points to those of you without SaintsPlayer: Markus didn't really think buying the club was such a big thing. Markus AND Nicola were shocked by how much the club meant to the fans. They had to complete their due diligence and other formalities without an exclusivity period which made things extremely hard. They had no idea where to start with the club being so close to the start of the season. We have the finances, but we aren't like those consortiums that promise everything under the sun and fail to deliver and damage the club. Markus loved taking photos of everything. He even took pictures around Staplewood. He took pictures of the club's tractors being left out in the rain because it shortened their life. Markus only ever felt nervous once, walking out at Wembley and seeing almost 50,000 Saints fans. Markus and Nicola spent a long time celebrating after the JPT win. He took loads of pictures of the JPT. He bought Nicola his promotion present just days before dying. The amount of support and tributes from the fans when Markus died totally overwhelmed everyone. Nicola says "If I knew how much it would affect me, I would have taken the back entrance." Markus has told Nicola the vision, and Nicola sees it as his duty to complete the goals set. The main goal is returning SFC to a stable Premier League Club. Nicola feels the vibe around the club is totally different. He says "same fans, but more positive, the club has belief now." He continues, "This is a new Southampton, things are finally coming together." The club is now being run properly and responsibly. Although promotion was expected it was a great achievement and if Markus could have written the script of promotion, it would have ended like it did. This is the Southampton way. It was a really good watch, and nice to hear from Cortese himself directly through the OS rather than a media outlet firing questions at him. If you don't have SaintsPlayer I really would recommend it for this alone, and for what you get, you can't really grumble. Thoughts on the message?
I did chuckle about the taking the pictures of the tractors cos it shortens their life . . . . bless markus!
Cheers for this DTLW, very interesting I think the saints player is worth having especially if you don't live local, if only for the live match commentary
I enjoyed the interview with Nicola Cortese Southampton's CEO very much. It is the first time I have heard him speak about Marcus Leibherr and the friendship they clearly had. Marcus was a very private person, but he still managed to exude the growing passion he had for the club and it's supporters. It is clear from the interview the friendship between the two went beyond a business relationship that had developed over the years. It was also clear about their belief in what they wanted and could achieve. When ever a club gets a new owner normally there is a big fanfare and the many interviews on all the sports channels. The headlines usually quoting the age old cliques "We will take this club back to where they belongs etc". Certainly yes that was said but somehow the whole thing was kept somewhat very low key. The fact that they knew very little about the club or it's supporters or indeed their combined knowledge of football itself, wasn't going to deter them. It's typical of Marcus it would seem, to sign the papers in his front room and then need to be reminded that he was about to become the owner of a football club! The interview also gave a bit more insight into what they wanted to achieve, they clearly believed that it could be done. It was also mentioned that it wasn't going to be easy. There should also be no doubt that both of them were part of that dream, failure was not an option. OK their first success was a minor one, but in bonding the club and it's fans to the leadership it was huge. Even when Marcus was sadly taken from us it was even clearer that that bond was forever forged. It was nice to see Nicola Cortese open up and to show the other side of his personality, the human side. I had the impression he doesn't suffer fools lightly. He has a task to fulfil, a duty almost, to complete his pledge to his and our friend Marcus Liebherr. I somehow doubt that any one who sees that interview on Saints player will be left in any doubt as to his drive and ambition. A very fitting interview in honor of the memory of Marcus Leibherr......R..I..P.
If only the big guy was there the day we got promoted...the photos of the pitch invasion would just remind him that he'd made the right choice buying the club. Thank you Saint Markus. Someday we'll live out his vision
Thankyou very much DTLW so infuriating not having Saints player! must fork out and get it for next season, I dont think i have ever felt so much positive energy around Saints, what a time to be a fan of our great club, thankyou Markus!
I'll beat uni next year and won't be able to hear the commentary on the radio so I've invested in SaintsPlayer. It's nice to see extended interviewss and highlights too.
I thought about the joke about him being an extractor fan but it might be taken the wrong way......... He liked tractors, I am a David Brown fan, we had something in common!
