If WGS had been given the full support of Saints' board during his time with us, and allowed the time and stability to develop sustainably, would be find ourselves in a position similar to Everton's today? How does this compare to the setup here today? There are a few years to go yet before we achieve that long-term stability and gradual yet solid success that Moyes is enjoying, but I am confident that in Adkins we have a manager more than capable of exceeding that, working under a chairman who backs him in achieving this.
I'm not sure that WGS and Nicola Cortese would've been a match made in heaven, although I agree that if he had been given the transfer budget that Nigel Adkins had then there is no way that we would've been relegated under WGS. I also believe that he would've left the job at some point, either to a bigger job or just for a 'sabbatical' as he did in 2004.
My recollection from the time is that WGS had already decided when he took the job that he was only going to do a few years. I remember an interview with him at the time, he and his wife weren't keen on Southampton (surely not?) but they decided together that they would do it for a short period only. Also, we were not relegated under WGS, and I don't think we would have been even if he had continued on a limited budget. I for one as absolutely gutted when he left, I thought we had a real chance to build some stability under him, but there you go.
I loved WGS and could not believe he'd been allowed to go. He said himself that he was stunned that he was allowed to speak to the other team...took that to mean he wasn't wanted. Felt the same about Pardew...luckily that turned out well.
WGS still has his house in southampton as he likes the area so much. Saw him in HMV last year doing his Christmas shopping. The fitness that he had in the team were missed when he went and the players didn't want to play under PS. Was still shocked that he was sacked just after the Blackburn game though seeing as we won 3-1 and had looked to turn a corner. We got relegated due to Wigley the form didn't change when Harry took over.
WGS was not sacked - he had decided to take a sabbatical and therefore would not re-new his contract i.e. he announced he was leaving at the end of the season. The club decided it was better he leave sooner rather than later so they could start the search for a new manager. www.guardian.co.uk/football/2004/feb/14/newsstory.southampton I'd thought it was because he wasn't keen on Southampton but maybe I was wrong about that. I am sure though that I remember an interview where he said that he and his wife decided they would take this sabbatical when he originally took the job in the first place - it was always a fixed period for them, he never intended to manage us long term.
But I'm sure Rupert Lowe would have been an influence in that - had a chairman been in place who worked well with WGS he might have thought quite differently about wanting to take a break.
Most people here are clearly too young to remember him at the '06 world cup where he stated the reason he left.
WGS said in his autobiography that he had a good working relationship with Rupert Lowe and that he wasnt the worst chairman that he had worked with. I think that the situation back then and the situation now are so different that its difficult to compare. The manager interviews are certainly very different ! WGS was a good manager for Saints then, but Adkins has the potential to be as good or better.
I've also read WGS's autobiography, and he came to Saints knowing full well that he would leave after a few years. He'd never taken any time off after he quit playing, and he planned to do so. He recommended Paul Sturrock to Rupert Lowe, and I feel that, if the players had taken to Sturrock he would have easily kept them from relegation. The truth is, the players loved WGS as a coach and a friend and they were really disappointed when the truth came out, and performances suffered as a result. You can see it when you read his story. He was going to last the season out, but I think it was SKY's twerp reporter Chris Kamara who betrayed a confidence and spilled the beans to the general public, so Paul Sturrock took over. Honestly, I thought Sturrock did OK, considering the players were feeling down. For example, 3-1 against Man City, at Eastlands, was a cracking win, and the football was really flowing. I still don't know the truth of his leaving. I think there was a little of the feeling that PS did feel he couldn't do justice to the job, after WGS. The rumour about Beatts or Dodds getting him sacked was complete rubbish. So Saints under WGS were always a stopgap, but what a wonderful one. Thank goodness it all ended as it did, because we now have the best owners and chairman that this club has possibly had in its entire existence, and certainly in my time of supporting it since 1966-67.
I remember reading that PS used to drink a lot and the management were unhappy with that. That could be rubbish tough.
Quite possibly. It's very easy for a rumour that a manager was dismissed due to; 1. A drink problem 2. A gambling habit 3. Lost the dressing room 4. Can't keep it in his trousers 5. (insert other human failing) but with no evidence to back it up. WRT to WGS, I had to pinch myself sometimes at St Marys. I mean, this was Saints I was watching? One-touch, silky football all based upon a level of fitness which he insisted upon. Had he stayed, I think we would have avoided the drop. I am ashamed to think that the day he was appointed, all I could think was, "great, relegated Coventry and now come to have a crack at my team". How wrong can a Fodder get? Don't answer that......
WGS had the side so fit it helped improve those players with limited ability to play well above what their skill levels would dictate (Chris Marsden Football Genius, for one). We were very difficult to beat and had a prolific James Beattie and Marion Pahars up front. I certainly think he would have given us regular European football had he stayed and improved the team with signings. I think we went through a stage of paying 2 million for a number of players who added to the squad but not the first 11, when we were crying out for one top class player to cement us in the top 6. When he left some of the discipline and fitness left with him and that is why practically the same squad of players that finished 8th were fighting relegation 2 years later. I think Sturrock would have done a good job for us given the chance but it wasn't to be. I seem to recall the rumours about his drinking but then it came out that he had some illness that made him look like he drunk a lot.
As TSS has written - Gordon took the Saints job on the understanding that it was for a limited time - he had promised his family he would take a sabbatical. If you have read his autobiography you will appreciate he is a man with strong family commitments and they came first. His book also tells you about Lowe's limitations and lack of ambition. I recall that when Lowe sold Peter Crouch (£7M?)he went to see Lowe about the war chest for buying new players for the upcoming and was told he had £2M to spend. I think it was then that he knew that any ideas he might have haboured about staying on disappeared.
I think Sturrock is an OK manager just not top flight. WGS though was a top boss. Think Nigel will turn out to be a great one!
Strachans era was the only golden era I remember at the club before our current uprising. A great character and got the best out of the team. I always remember the cup final and the European adventure after finishing 8 th. I remember when Strachan first joined people were wondering if he could keep us up after he had been sacked from Coventry. In 2006 he did suggest that Lowe did not back in the transfer market, he seemed rather wistful, however once he decided he was leaving we declined.
It would seem the Sturrocks best managerial years were the ones leading up to us with Plymouth. After us he never seemed to get success anywhere else even when going back to Plymouth although he seems to be doing ok with Southend UTD now. Nigel is a great manager and is there along side WGS with what he has achieved so far. Its hard to compare the two as they are managers in different eras with different ideas on the game. WGS seemed to build us from the back where as Nigel has done the opposite.
