15 Jan 2014 01:43:42
If cortese leaves then it is curtains for us we are where we are because of him he is with out doubt the best chairman in the premier league argue with me on this if you want but you are wrong! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US!

1.) 15 Jan 2014
Probably lack of funds
bad news for us if he goes
typical saints though

2.) 15 Jan 2014
No point disagreeing then? Club is bigger than anyone individual, we would have survived, just look at Leeds now lol and Coventry and Wimbledon.

3.) 15 Jan 2014
I totally agree! Mo Po has also said he will leave if NC goes!

4.) 15 Jan 2014
I agree. if NC wants to sell then let him sell whoever it might be, has he got anything wrong yet. NO

Tommo

5.) 15 Jan 2014
If courtese leaves it means nothing, he would have left us in amazing shape,
most chairman go into a job with a team that's financially buckled ithtink it would start a bidding war if he did though and hope he doesn't

st stuie

6.) 15 Jan 2014
He won't leave, him and poch are in for the long run

7.) 15 Jan 2014
I think this is very likely to happen, rumour from inside the club was that Poch would leave at the end of this season and now the Cortese thing is in the open it would all seem to fit in to place.
So onwards and upwards. What about Niel Lennon for next Saints manager?
He has champions league experience and know some of our key players already

8.) 15 Jan 2014
Poch said he has a good relationship with the Don despite the papers saying it was on the rocks over christmas. Poch said it was all rubbish. The Don signed a new contract with Liebharr family in the summer why leave now? What about the long term plan?

9.) 15 Jan 2014
If true, then who knows? We may actually have far wealthier buyers in the wings who want to take the club even further. We are not a championship club nymore so won't be attracting the odd chairman like hull & cardiff.

10.) 15 Jan 2014
The only positive thought on this is that it is the leihberrs who employed him and who own the club. They are great business people and probably know more people with Corteses quality. Its not all doom and gloom.

Prendy

11.) 15 Jan 2014
Cortese has already said he would not leave Southampton football Club as it is his baby. He would not be given the same power at AC Milan any way. Simply he is not leaving. Looking forward to rising to the next level under his guidance!

Ben Parker
Basingstoke Saint

12.) 15 Jan 2014
Bye bye prem hello league one, thanks for the ride courtese you one top chairman. No idea where we go from here but let me guess he's leaving due to owners not wanting to invest and our top players will soon be on move. One gutted saints fan here. phil

13.) 15 Jan 2014
Cortese will see us through and when he does go eventually he will ensure we are in the best hands.

14.) 15 Jan 2014
Strongly agree!

15.) 15 Jan 2014
Loyalty to the club is a big factor in declaring someone is the best chairman in the league. If he goes, he goes. The club will still live on.
Don't get me wrong I want him to stay. And it does worry me the domino effect it could have with Poch and players leaving.
But Southampton are an attractive outfit, no debt, brand new a grade training facilities, one of the best academies around.
Who knows maybe he wants a bigger transfer budget again, like the last transfer window.

16.) 15 Jan 2014
The same thing happened last transfer window, and people did move quickly to clear it up.

Again this has possibly been leaked by Cortese to try to release funds from the trust to fuel his ambition for the club, or to get them to sell it to some one who will finance them.

I remember there was talk at the time that Luke Shaw wanted a clause in his contract that if Cortese went then so could he (he didn't get it).

I just hope that funds are released and that NC is here for many many more years, I also hope this is cleared up as quickly as last time.

17.) 15 Jan 2014
If he goes I think we are in a very good position. Good players coming through. At the end of the day, unless the lebeierre family sell, the next acting chairmen still wouldn't have to sell their prized assets. We still wouldn't need to sell, only job would be keeping are young stars happy and playing regular football.
Saint smiff

18.) 15 Jan 2014
One thing for sure is if this rumour is true then NC won't be out there selling "The Southampton Way" to Saints next big signing this window with this in the background.

I think we have possibly asked for more funds and if the answer is no then his long term future is in doubt.

Fearsome brikmanship that could work out well for Saints long term future or plunge us into crisis.

19.) 15 Jan 2014
He just handed in his written notice.

20.) 15 Jan 2014
He has gone, gutted Phil

21.) 15 Jan 2014
Sounds like he has resigned. Shame but he took us back to where we belong. Worried how the instability will affect the likes of Shaw and others come Summer if Poch does follow him out.

22.) 15 Jan 2014
People forget that Cortese brought Marcus to us not the other way around, this 5 year plan that Marcus put in place is coming to an end, I wonder if the Leib Family really want to keep us now, I expect new buyers that could be backed by cortese, who knows he has publicly stated many times that he know plenty of people that would like to buy Southampton, there was rumours that the sunseaker deal came from the chinese, only time will tell, I cannot see him going to Milan he would not have the same role there as he does as Southampton there is too many heads involved at a massive club like that.
M. R the truth the power.

23.) 15 Jan 2014
He has not gone just yet, apparently!

24.) 15 Jan 2014
If Cortese does go, does anyone think he'll be back to buy the club?

He always stated that if the money wasn't available to achieve his plans, he had alternative investors prepared to step in.

25.) 15 Jan 2014
It all boils down to what have these two fallen out over.

Is it money or is it control?

KL has stated that she has no real interest in football so what is going on?

I suspect NC has ambitions for the club that KL has no great interested in.
For the long term future of Saints it is no good to have owners that just aren't that interested in what we do.
Right now I'd much rather see a new owner than a new chairman.
After all bringing in another chairman chosen by KL is not something I particularly look forward to.

26.) 15 Jan 2014
Hi everyone, this is pretty bad news but until we know for sure we shouldn't panick. Cortese loves the club and has had multiple offers since arriving from huge clubs such as Bayern Munich and AC Milan, we know he is dedicated and has chosen not to leave before.
Let's stay positive until his choice is final.

👌

27.) 15 Jan 2014
I suppose thinking on it, the ambitions of Cortese's vision may outweigh the willingness for the Lieberrs to invest their money into, i. e. the previous mentions of a new stadium, signing talent for what the owners might perceive as inflated prices, likewise not selling talent when offers come in. Obviously the ideal situation for every Saints fan now would be to see Cortese lead the club into new ownership which allows his vision to proceed. Hopefully the club will elaborate on this in some way in the coming days. Nevertheless Saints will go on no matter the outcome! COYR

28.) 15 Jan 2014
Apparently KL wants to sell but cortese wants to wait. Bust up over Christmas so he's jacking in. 5 year plan is almost up, like someone else said, don't be surprised to see him back with another buyer. Coyr with the best academy in the country

29.) 15 Jan 2014
Cortese isn't leaving, he refused to leave this summer, he refused to leave last time AC Milan came knocking. Now, he has kids in school here, he's building an extension on his place, he's settled here, his family are settled here, Southampton is his baby, he wants to complete the project, i'd be very surprised if he was to walk

30.) 15 Jan 2014
There was saints before cortese and co. This may be an end to an era, but it's been brilliant! Rising from the depths of league one to top half of the pl, and meeting skates on their way down was a bonus.
Southampton will carry on, maybe with a traditional striped kit next season, playing every game with a nervous final 10 mins or beating the top clubs but losing to sides battling relegation!
But it doesn't matter as one thing that can't change which makes the club what it is, is us fans! Coyr!

31.) 15 Jan 2014
Confirmed today cortese has the intention to leave and poch is likely to walk awell I think if this happen we are fu***d w need both of them and yes no man is biger than the club but these TWO are for me we needthem and the are vital to what w re and what we want to do and without them both we will not go anywere and will just sell every decent young player we ae and non of us want that so I don't know abot the rest of you bt I want the leihbers gone mrkus when he ok us oveand saved s had the love of fotball we all do and wanted te best for the clb bu his daughter who now owns the club osent care for football which is why I ant her gone markus was a different man and RIP to him buthis daughter is not what I want at saints.
IN CORTESE AND POCHETINO WE TRUST!

32.) 15 Jan 2014
Bad news but. If katherina is very keen to sell as is being reported how much cash are you going to need?

Look at Fulham with a lovely but old ground, an ageing squad and a small supporter base they were sold/bought for 150 million less than two years ago.

Saints with a modern stadium, some of the best training and youth structures in the league and a group of young talented players are going to cost what shall we say 250 million (do not forget the enormous income from the TV deal that will give any investor security).

So if she does sell its going to to someone with a lot money and more than likely ambition for football success.

NC has hinted that he has been approached by other investors with an interest in the club. Just maybe what we are seeing here is a bit strategy from NC, if he goes and she sells who would be make a very good CEO for our club to any new owner.

Hello and welcome Nichola Cortese.

NC has made a huge emotional investment in Saints I struggle with the idea that he would just would walk away.

Watch this space.

33.) 15 Jan 2014
Let's also show Pochetino how much we value him by singing his name (i'm not in the UK but our great travelling support I hope will agree) at Sunderland and also giving him a great reception at the Yeovil home game.

JSYSAINT

34.) 15 Jan 2014
He's gone. Public support for MPO and players on official site.
Let's get behind Katharina Liebherr, her father saved our club and she deserve our support. We will move on and get stronger.

35.) 15 Jan 2014
I don't understand how people can say he isn't leaving when the club have now told us he is gone. I pray that Poch won't go with him. This is a massive knock for the football club.

As a small bonus, the club is now worth a great deal more money than it was. In theory it means if we are sold, then it will be sold to someone with a great deal of money who hopefully see's us as more than a business with a quick few million to be made. We've gone through some pretty rough times in recent history. Let's hope this is a stepping stone to the future and we don't end up like our hapless neighbours down the road.

In Southampton we trust.

36.) 15 Jan 2014
Oh my god it happened!

Time to show our support to the team, manager and the Liebherr Family.

M13

37.) 15 Jan 2014
Sorry guys but can we get real over this. Firstly Cortese has done a fabulous job moving the club up the divisions and we should be very grateful for that. He chose Adkins who we should remember coached the players, picked the team and motivated them to two consecutive promotions. Cortese chose to replace him with MoPo, which was a shock at the time but seems to have worked out, short term at least! I haven't read many posts on here praising Adkins contribution ever? Also no one individual is bigger than the club, or so the story goes. Cortese didn't own the club and in his own words was just an employee. As such he can go if he thinks the grass is greener and good luck to him and thank you NC for what your contribution. Re MoPo where is his loyalty, Cortese, the club, the project or the pay cheque. Time will tell.
Inside info I have heard is that the club has been asked to raise some cash this transfer window. Pretty sure this will be dressed up with spin like "they left because they were disillusioned" etc but financial reality has hit most of us the last couple of years. Some of the first team are available for transfer this window, a fact.
Did NC get too big for his boots? Did he try to force the owners hand once too often? Was he a media manipulator?
Time will tell, but for now MoPo needs to get a grip and act like a head of department, steady his department and show what he's made of?
COYR. saints forever

38.) 15 Jan 2014
Well we had it good for while
who knows what's going to happen now
worse time though January all those clubs trying to sign our talented youth will be rubbing their hands

diggy

39.) 15 Jan 2014
#finishthejourney

40.) 15 Jan 2014
Mopo will be gone tomorrow

41.) 16 Jan 2014
As someone else mentioned, perhaps he left so that he could broker a deal for a new buyer. Might that make sense?