Saints have confirmed the appointment of Ralph Krueger as the new chairman of the club.

The 54-year-old has taken up the role after returning from the Winter Olympics, where he was a consultant for the gold-medal winning Canadian ice hockey team.

Krueger is chairman of the parent company, St Mary's Football Group Limited, formerly known as DMWSL 613.

Business lawyer Hans Hofstetter has also joined the holding company’s board of directors, alongside interim chief executive Gareth Rogers, while Rogers remains an executive director of the football club's board, alongside Les Reed.

Krueger, a former professional ice hockey player and coach, said: “I am honoured to take on the role of chairman of Southampton Football Club and the group.

“I have had an opportunity to meet with a large percentage of the staff at Southampton and it is clear there is a positive soul throughout the club, both at St Mary’s and the training ground.

“We will build on that soul by creating platforms of open communication both inside with the staff and outside with our fan base.

"Although there is a solid foundation in place, the club still has tremendous untapped commercial potential. We will continue to nurture 'The Southampton Way' by reaching for consistent growth in all departments to ultimately build a culture that allows Southampton to remain healthy and sustainable in the future."

Owner Katharina Liebherr, who is remaining on the board, added: "Ralph has an impressive background in major league sport at all levels, it is his experience as an expert in leadership, motivation and team-building that makes him ideally suited for this important position in the Saints organisation.

"He has been a leading advisor and coach to senior management in large international corporations for the past 20 years. In addition, he has been an active member of the World Economic Forum since 2011.

"The news that Ralph has agreed to take on the role of chairman at the club follows a calm and steady process of identifying a board that will bring the stability needed to achieve long-term success both on and off the pitch.

"I will remain on the board, with an active involvement, and we will continue to move forward with great respect for Saints' history, while at the same time work towards a process that is creative, unique, dynamic and modern."