The Liebherrs just aren't into football, I think it's that simple. People don't make money from owning football clubs - it's an expensive hobby, not a financial investment. If these people don't care about it like Markus did, then they'll probably look to sell before too long.
I agree with your analysis, up to a point. But I think the least likely is option 1. If the Liebherrs have little interest in football, then there's only one reason for them to invest money in SFC, and that reason is trust in Nicola Cortese. You wouldn't tie money up in a football club for purely financial reasons, it just wouldn't make sense. So I really can't see them appointing another chairman. The other two options seem equally possible to me.
Exactly...and to be honest I don't want us to be owned by people who don't care for the on field exploits. We would be a rich Coventry!
Alan Nixon refused to comment on this whole situation the other day, but he has now said... "Owners want more value for their money"
Exactly. Cortese leaves, Pochettino leaves, players become far more likely to leave and we start dropping down the leagues again. See if they get their value then...
But unfortunately they are not going to look that far to the future. It all seems a bit bad advice quick decision lark, & that spells trouble. Shame they couldn't stop to consider this was Markus Liebherrs dream, you don't have to continue with it, but don't start pissing on it.
And the Stating The Bleeding Obvious Award 2013 goes to ........ Alan Nixon. Yeah, I don't think he has an inside line on this one, stick to transfer stories Alan!
Allow me to throw this little pebble onto the water . Cortese's Mrs is home sick and she wants him out of SFC .
Yeah, while I don't know for sure that the Liebherr's aren't into football, that does seem by far the most reasonable explanation for any conflict. Which again, I'm not sure exists other than the standard contract negotiation posturing. The Liebherrs are rich and the money required to run a Championship or League One club is chump change for them. So there was no harm in indulging Cortese and carrying out Markus's project. But when you start shooting for top international side status, then it starts to become work. I doubt the Liebherr's are worried about losing their fortunes, but the money involved is enough to where you might want to keep an eye on things. And the club becomes more visible, and that visibility may not suit the Liebherrs or their plans for their other businesses. So it seems to me like the most likely outcome is they tell Cortese that they're willing to give him some level of cash and keep the operation small so they aren't bothered with it, or they will sell. Or they would most likely be amenable to selling the club to someone else if they can get a fair value for it and if Cortese can find a buyer and that buyer wants Cortese to stay that's probably fine with them since they don't care. The only scenario I can come up with where they fire Cortese and keep the club is if they are super into owning the club and/or they hate Cortese and want to screw him over. Which is possible but there haven't been any visible signs of that.
Tony Evans, who broke the story has been on talkSPORT this morning. Key points: - Cortese very smart - He has very big ambitions - a couple of other PL owners have sung his praises - Lord Mawhinney likes Cortese and Saints - Trust are rethinking their approach - "Southampton face a very uncomfortable summer"
We might not like his last comment but it is true....I can see all our transfers being put on hold if the Trust have tightened the purse strings I think the true indication of how serious this situation is that if we see a number of early transfers coming in then I don't think we have a too great problem however if nothing happens early doors then "Houston! We have a problem!"
I actually proposed this myself during the writing of one message and then deleted it before posting. It's entirely possible, though I think it's something that could be got around, in any case. Pure speculation, by the way.
Pompey fan in peace. Why can't PFC, Saints and Brighton all be stable at the same time? When it looks like we are out of the woods (albeit in League 2!) all of a sudden the provebial hits the fan at SFC and at Brighton. I think the owners need to keep hold of Cortese - yes he made some desicions this season which have been strange to the outsider - but he has delievered a good team to the PL. Can I ask a question now that you are approaching the end of the season - do you think Adkins would have kept you up? Was it the right choice for Cortese to bring in a new manager so close to the end of the season?
