Getting cynical in my old age

I seem to be getting very cynical in my old age.

As Saints announce their 4th signing of the pre-season, without (officially at least), selling or releasing any of the current squad, I find myself far more concerned about WHO is going to be leaving than the players coming in.

If the club are intending to keep, the likes of Surman and Andrew Davies, along side these new guys, then things may not be as bad as many Saints fans feared they would be.    

But it would be nice to know and surely about time for all concerned to know, who is being released, and who is staying.

I also find myself reading, statements on the OS, and thinking…”really???”…and “yer right!”…..

The spin they have put on the arrival of a Dutch head coach, who if you read the Clubs official spin, is the next Gus Hiddink, but whom has in fact spent most of the last few years managing at around conference level and below.

Then we hear we are signing a promising youngster, who Derby were desperate to keep hold of, only to discover Derby had in fact released him on a free, 3 weeks before.

We then fanfare the signing of a experience but hardly dynamic 30 year old who was released by Plymouth as surplus to requirements and who spent most of last season injured. 

Now we have the French youngster who we are told Arsenal and Chelsea were tracking, so you’ll excuse me if I don’t quite believe that we pipped them to the post.

The other worrying fact in all this is that our new “head coach”, has yet to see the new guy Morgan Schneiderlin, kick a ball.   In fact I’m not sure he has seen any of our new signings play yet, which begs the rather worrying question, who is actually signing these players?

Another worrying aspect for me, is that if the Club over do the good news, then fans expectations of these players will be too high for the new season and if they fail to deliver, the fans will get on their backs and it could ruin, the young players.
  

Andy P.

---

New saints “Head Coach” has been told to pay 75,000 euros (nearly £60,000) compensation to secure his release to Saints.

After weeks of wranglings with his former club Helmond Sport, last night an arbitration hearing in Holland, decided what would happen to Poortvliet.

With Poortvliet and Helmond unable to come to an agreement over a suitable compensation fee it was left to the KNVB, the Dutch FA, to rule on the matter.
They agreed that Poortvliet's move to become Saints' new head coach was an improvement for him financially and in terms of his career and so therefore determined his contract in Holland can be terminated.

But they ordered him to pay 75,000 euros in compensation, which at yesterday's exchange rate is just shy of £60,000.

Not a great deal of money in the modern game, but when you consider, we have been told Poortvliet will be paying it himself, and we have also been told that his and Woote salaries together were cheaper than Pearson, it’s a big chunk of change for him to cough up!.

More to follow: 

---

The daily echo ran the following story tonight.

The same story has been running on the various Saints forums since the story broke at the end of last week.

I would implore Mr Lowe and Mr Wilde to step in and sort this situation out, before the name of Southampton football club gets any lower!

 "SHE is a lifelong Saints fan who passionately followed her team through thick and thin.

So when the family of teenage coma victim Sophie Wilkinson appealed to Southampton Football Club for its support, they were delighted when then chairman Leon Crouch agreed.

However, they were then left distraught when a change of board at St Mary's Stadium led to a change of heart.

Previously the club promised Sophie's dad Andrew that it would buy a table for Sophie's Gala Ball at a cost of £650 and donate an extra £1,000 to her community website to boost funds for Sophie's Gift, the charity set up by her parents with the aim of raising £300,000 to pay for a mobile head and neck scanner for Southampton General Hospital.

Up until now the family, from Bishop's Waltham, have been grateful for a signed shirt and the promise of recorded messages from Saints players.

However, when Andrew invoiced the club for the £1,650 he was told that as this was promised to them when Mr Crouch was chairman, it was Mr Crouch who had to pay.

The blow came just two days before the Wilkinson family celebrated Sophie's 18th birthday in hospital, where she remains in a coma, seven months after a car crash.

Over the past few months the 18-year-old's fight has captured the hearts of thousands, including Hollywood A-listers and top television stars. 

Pirates of the Caribbean hunk Johnny Depp has taken the time to record two special messages to Sophie with a promise to visit, while Angelina Jolie, Amanda Holden and Sharon Osbourne have all pledged their support.

Eager not to let the family down, Mr Crouch personally paid the full amount within 24 hours.He told the Daily Echo last night: "I think it's right and proper that the club should in its own way support charities like this one.

"But I feel honoured and privileged to support Sophie's Gift and I will continue to do so through any way I can.

"Dad Andrew said: "Sophie is a massive Saints fan but days before her 18th birthday, they have just turned round and said they don't want anything to do with her."I can't believe they can do that to her.

 From the start we wanted Southampton to be heavily involved because Saints was Sophie's passion."Within days we received the cheque from Leon, so that just goes to show the integrity of the man. So we want to thank him for that.

"Southampton Football Club declined to comment."

---