Nicola Cortese says businesses do not realise Southampton FC have been taken over

That’s the message from new Saints boss, former Swiss banker Nicola Cortese.

He says suspicious Hampshire firms haven’t got the message about the club’s new-found financial security.

Despite the high profile takeover at St Mary’s by industrialist Markus Leibherr, who has a personal fortune estimated at £2.5 billion, local suppliers are still demanding payment up front and credit checks.

Even after Saints showed off their new-found wealth by signing striker Rickie Lambert for £1m – the first £1m player in League One for seven years – cautious firms are still proving to be a block on the preparations for a push back to the Premiership.

Mr Cortese said: “I have been really pleased with the reaction myself and Markus have received from the people of Southampton since the takeover.

“However, the biggest problem that we have to overcome is that we are finding local businesses and suppliers appear to be unaware of the takeover.

“We are spending a large amount of time having to provide credit checks to these companies, and are often being asked to pay in advance of receiving services.”

He said the club today is a far cry from the one that was relegated last season groaning beneath financial woes.

“What I would like to make clear is that since the takeover on July 8 we are a completely new company to the Southampton Football Club of old.

“There are new owners, a new executive chairman. All our previous debts have been paid off and we are able to operate as a business in good health once again,” he said.

“On the pitch we have brought in an ambitious new management team, and are in the process of strengthening the squad that we have here.

“However, at the moment I seem to be spending more time than I would like filling in paperwork for suppliers, rather than speaking to clubs about bringing in players to strengthen the squad even further.”