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Branfoot, Ball, Merrington and Souness, four managers in as many years is an alarmingly high turnover for a club once famed for its longevity in managerial tenure. Following Souness' sudden departure at the end of last season, Saints fans waited with resigned familiarity for the appointment of number five in this recent roll call of personalities with questionable pedigrees entering the manager's office at The Dell (Saints home ground).
If Souness's leaving was a shock, this writer was pleased and surprised when Rupert Lowe, The Chairman, announced his decision to employ Dave Jones, for he hadn't appeared on the shortlist published by the Local Paper, nor was his name ever mentioned before the press conference announcing his selection. I hear you cynics say "Lowe's just gone for the cheap option." This I concede may well be the underlying truth, however, I believe Jones will prove to be an inspired choice for The Saints and end the cycle of revolving door management.
Dave Jones, for those not familiar with the new manager, is a laid back Liverpudlian, whose own unremarkable, professional football playing career peaked at Everton before moving into the coaching side of the game. He worked his way up the backroom ladder at Stockport County of the Nation-wide Second Division, where he learnt his trade under Danny Bergara. Bergara was a noted lower division manager. When he left the club Jones took over at the helm. Shrewd transfer dealing and good man management skills coupled with tactical acumen and Jones' relaxed style of management were rewarded. Promotion to the nation-wide first division and a memorable giant killing run in the Coca-Cola Cup quickly followed. The last Saints fans will bitterly recall as Stockport County added Saints to their already impressive tally of scalps. After a brave battle Middlesborough' millionaires ended Stockport's' hope in the semi final.
Jones has proved he can succeed at a small unfashionable club with few resources. Exactly what Saints need. Are Southampton not the Stockport Country of the Premiership? Jones is one of the leading lights of a new generation of young managers. Saints will do well to hold on to him. I extend a warm welcome to him hope the supporters show patience while he acquaints himself with the premier league and begins to mould his own team.
With his appointment as manager, Jones inherited a squad including end of season signing including Kevin Davies from Chesterfield (who had emulated Stockport in the F.A. cup). But minus West Ham United bound Eyual Berkovic. In keeping with his character Jones refrained from plunging into the transfer market and panic buying. Instead careful planning and patient negotiating have brought their new faces to the Dell. Jones returned to his old club to snap up promising young goal keeper Paul Jones (no relation) and a much needed left back in Lee Todd. Neil Moss, the Saints Reserve Keeper, went to Stockport in Exchange as part of a £1.2m deal. A more recent acquisition is striker STIG Target. But protracted negotiations with sporting Lisbon's winger Jose Dominquez proved fruitless when he signed for Tottenham Hotspur. During the close season, Saints thankfully turned down a £4M from Newcastle United for Egil Ostenstad.
As any reader of this page, or indeed anyone au fait with life at The Dell will know things can't be all rosy and indeed they are not. On the down side Matthew Le Tissier broke his arm during the pre-season tour of Germany. This ruled him out for the opening weeks of the perennial fight for premiership survival. The other big disappointment was the opening day home defeat by newly promoted Bolton Wanderers. Saints were poor, apart from excellent Goal Keeping from new boy Paul Jones and a promising debut by Welsh Winger Andy Williams.
With a midweek trip to Old Trafford, followed by a visit from Arsenal my prediction this year are:
Points look difficult to come by. Yet I remain optimistic for Saints survival in the premiership because I believe we have found the Right Manager at last. (Hurrah - The Typist)
Log on again for my mid season review.
