Not so convinced. I think Solak had no choice but to react. He will need to allay the fear of the fans but I think our position at the moment is demonstrative that ge has acted too late. People had reservations about the while SR set up from the point they had deferred the sacking of Hassenhutl. Most fans knew the board had failed as soon as they appointed Nathan Jones.
A lot of our fans slagged Wilcox off to United fans when he was leaving us too, tbf. We'd have definitely been better off if he'd stayed though
Their 'downward spiral' is more to do with PSR and their Chinese owners apparently shifting priorities to other ventures. Hobbs has been there since 2015, (mostly as Chief Scout), so during their promotion and impressive first few seasons in the Prem, not just the last couple of seasons.
Call be old fashioned, but I'd rather we appoint someones whose sole focus is on our club, and not the wider SR group ...
This will be the issue going forward for our club. SR have put us in such a spot now where coming to us is only seen as a downwards move. A manager with a year on his contract, players who either don’t care or want out. Signings who have been demonstrably terrible across the board. No DoF or senior structure in place. Getting rid of (or at least considering selling) our best players as soon as there is a whiff of profitability. What motivation, desire or interest will there be from anyone who is either above us in the Prem, or is up and coming from lower leagues to come to a team that’s in a **** state like that? It’s not like we’re gonna offer wages that they can’t refuse. We’re just ****ed unfortunately because of absolutely inept management going all the way back to the era when we hired Claude Puel. Our best days were behind us and Katerina cashed in as much as she could before leaving and then it’s been horrific owner after horrific owner. Now everyone is looking around weirdly perplexed as to why we’re in the situation we are. Southampton FC is what happens when a football club is seen as business only rather than a football club first. Yeah you may have a period of success where you’re the shiniest thing on the market but eventually you’ll be yesterday’s news and no one wants anything to do with you. Unfortunately we are firmly in the latter now. I know this post is doom and gloom but I felt like this all of last season where it was blatantly obvious that team will get crushed in the premier league. I was one of a few that wanted another season in the championship and felt our league position did not tell the full story of our performance.
You're underestimating the pull of a job as DoF massively. We'll be fine, it's just been a bit of a bumpy road.
Really negative way of looking at it. While SR have their issues, the whole 'selling club' reputation comes from before their time. They managed to hold on to the likes of KWP and Che Adams when we were relegated, despite interest from Prem clubs. We have a generous, wealthy owner, top facilities and stadium, decent fan base, famed academy etc. The appeal of turning the club around, and what that would do for one's reputation, has to be a draw to some extent.
I think it's difficult to talk about the last ten years together because, as you say, we've had multiple different owners who've been bad in at least slightly different ways. As for recruiting to senior roles, I would guess the aim will be to do what we did with Wilcox and recruit someone as Director of Football who's currently in a less senior role and looking to make a step up. Fairly standard stuff in most industries to be honest.
It's a great club to get the reins at, especially once we're at the top end of the Champ. Recent people in the senior positions have been headhunted for roles at The FA, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham etc. It will appeal
Whoever we get, I just really hope we get someone ambitious who wants to keep our young talent at all costs. One major area of improvement for me is changing the ambition level & for me that comes from being strict on holding onto our talented players and changing the culture / narrative around being a selling club. I genuinely believe with our current crop of youngsters, if we keep them together for 2 seasons & add quality next time around we will compete at the highest level
