Roughly this time two years ago Saints were suffering the worst time in the History of the club. As if relegation was not enough there was a distinct likely hood that our beloved club could go out of existence!
Along came our benefactors, Marcus Liebherr and Nichola Cortese who stepped in, in our darkest hour.
They made decisions, some good, some not so good, but what ever they did it was decisive.
Everything began to pick up almost immediately, practically every Saints fan began to feel good about themselves and started to believe in miracles of one sort or the other.
Suddenly from all round the world, people were congratulating us and wishing us well. There were a very small minority who were doing their utmost to try and sink us into oblivion and still try today. Largely they have failed and the reason for that failure is our belief in our beloved Southampton and our new management.
That has been our greatest strength.
Understandably it took a while for a lot of the fans to trust completely, the new management team.
They told us at the time what they intended to do, what their aim was and implemented it.
The tragic death of our main benefactor came out of the blue and despite reassurances from Nichola Cortese, some fans felt in a bit of a limbo. Wanting to believe what they were being told. Somehow just couldn't bring themselves to wholely trust what they were hearing.
This was not helped in particular by a lot of the media and if I may say, skillful wumming by our near neighbors. Luckily the core of our fans did and continued to believe.
The sudden and mysterious change of management added to this confusion of spirit at the time.
Strangely, gradually, things began to look up under the new management regime. I say strangely, simply that for me, it was almost an overnight change. After the dour beginning to the new campaign, it came rather like a breath of fresh air.
I doubt there is any that would disagree the new manager seemed to wave a magic wand and off we went. Yes we have had our surprises since then and our upsets.
Show me a football team in the UK that hasn't had them.
The Saints fans have been tremendous more noticeably in the new year. That support is worth a couple of wins a season at least. You all should be proud.
We all have heard what the manager and chairman have said is the aim of Southampton football club.
We have just crossed that first hurdle. The real battle starts again in a couple of months for stage two.
So I will finish off by asking you a couple of questions.
What do you feel will be our biggest challenge to thwarting us in our goals?
How will we overcome those challenges?
When do you realistically think we can get into the top flight?
Most of all lets not forget our benefactors on Saturday and sunday. Lets all enjoy the day.
Let us remind all and sundry,
We are the Saints
We are back
Come one you Saints !!!
Along came our benefactors, Marcus Liebherr and Nichola Cortese who stepped in, in our darkest hour.
They made decisions, some good, some not so good, but what ever they did it was decisive.
Everything began to pick up almost immediately, practically every Saints fan began to feel good about themselves and started to believe in miracles of one sort or the other.
Suddenly from all round the world, people were congratulating us and wishing us well. There were a very small minority who were doing their utmost to try and sink us into oblivion and still try today. Largely they have failed and the reason for that failure is our belief in our beloved Southampton and our new management.
That has been our greatest strength.
Understandably it took a while for a lot of the fans to trust completely, the new management team.
They told us at the time what they intended to do, what their aim was and implemented it.
The tragic death of our main benefactor came out of the blue and despite reassurances from Nichola Cortese, some fans felt in a bit of a limbo. Wanting to believe what they were being told. Somehow just couldn't bring themselves to wholely trust what they were hearing.
This was not helped in particular by a lot of the media and if I may say, skillful wumming by our near neighbors. Luckily the core of our fans did and continued to believe.
The sudden and mysterious change of management added to this confusion of spirit at the time.
Strangely, gradually, things began to look up under the new management regime. I say strangely, simply that for me, it was almost an overnight change. After the dour beginning to the new campaign, it came rather like a breath of fresh air.
I doubt there is any that would disagree the new manager seemed to wave a magic wand and off we went. Yes we have had our surprises since then and our upsets.
Show me a football team in the UK that hasn't had them.
The Saints fans have been tremendous more noticeably in the new year. That support is worth a couple of wins a season at least. You all should be proud.
We all have heard what the manager and chairman have said is the aim of Southampton football club.
We have just crossed that first hurdle. The real battle starts again in a couple of months for stage two.
So I will finish off by asking you a couple of questions.
What do you feel will be our biggest challenge to thwarting us in our goals?
How will we overcome those challenges?
When do you realistically think we can get into the top flight?
Most of all lets not forget our benefactors on Saturday and sunday. Lets all enjoy the day.
Let us remind all and sundry,
We are the Saints
We are back
Come one you Saints !!!
Suddenly not looking so good for you lot is it?
