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9:55am Friday 19th June 2009 in Sport
By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter
SAINTS fans greeted with excitement yesterday's exclusive from the Daily Echo about the club's owners-to-be talking to Kevin Keegan.
Thousands took part in the Echo's online poll, with more than 70 per cent saying they would welcome him as manager.
Outside St Mary's Stadium, supporters were equally as enthusiastic at the prospect of Keegan returning to the club he signed for as European Player of the Year in 1980.
Office worker Ollie Gara, 23, from Polygon in Southampton said: "It would be good so long as we can get the money together and he doesn’t jump ship.
"What he could do is attract a few bigger names to the club and if he stuck around a bit, he could give the club that extra bit of stability."
Anna Novak, 24, from Bitterne Park, Southampton, said: "He is a very famous name. I think he would be a big success."
Student Simon Romsey, 17, from Bishop’s Waltham, said: "I’m guessing he could have a positive impact. He’s known as someone who can inspire the fans and players alike. He’s an old favourite and would give everyone a lift."
Nicky Rutt, 28, from Britannia Road, Southampton, said: "I think it would be one of the best things Saints have ever done. He’s a wonderful manager and has done amazing things with Newcastle in the past. It could be really positive for the team and the club."
Water engineer Mark Summers, 29, from Bristol, said: "It could be a really good appointment. He would inspire a lot more faith among supporters. He has always been successful when he’s had plenty of money to spend. I just hope that he would bring that belief back."
Nursery nurse April Masterman, 21, from Weston, said: "It could be great for Saints. Kev is a legend and it would be amazing to have him back at the club."
Nursery nurse Aparna Sharma, 25, from St Mary’s Road, Southampton, said: "I think it would be a big boost to the players and supporters. But sometimes having such a big name can end up being counterproductive."
Admin officer Alison Reilly, 48, from Emsworth, said: "It would be absolutely fantastic if we could get him back. He would drag us in to the 21st century and get us playing attractive football. He’s guaranteed to put a smile back on the players’ faces and would give them plenty of encouragement. Everybody loves him."
Admin manager Mary Mundye, 49, from Havant, said: "I’ve been a Saints fan all my life. I think it would be fabulous if Kev took up the reins.. I think he would be the right man for the job. He is so full of enthusiasm, which is just what we need."
Richard Marsh, 49, wife Jeannie, 51 and their son Lance, 12, all from Sherborne, Dorset.
"Keegan is a bit of a Messiah. He seems to spread a lot of good will around where he goes.
"If he came, he could give everybody a tremendous lift."
Retired Alan Belding, 64, from Wootton Bassett, said: "I think he would be good. He’s a big name and a huge character. I think if he was here, more fans would come along on match days to support the team."
School finance officer, Sue Fox, 38, from Hartley Wintney, said: "He would be an amazing addition down here. We desperately need someone to help galvanise team spirit.
"I just hope that he could act as the spur to take us back in to the top flight."
Nick Illingsworth, chairman of Saints Trust, said: "It is obviously a surprise for a lot of people. In league one you do not get many managers with the stature of Keegan and to think that Saints might have that excites a lot of people including me."
Comments(9)
stoopid
says...
10:31am Fri 19 Jun 09
Fides
says...
11:23am Fri 19 Jun 09
stoopid wrote:Well said.
I feel a bit sorry for MLT if all the hype around KK is just speculation based upon some bricky's mobile phone photo as seems the case.
MLT & co spend weeks putting together a major deal to buy the club, cancel the debts and then it all appears a bit of a let down when there’s no big-name manager.
If it’s true then brilliant – if not then let’s not take anything away from the Pinnacle team who have worked so hard to save the club.
Southampton Heart
says...
12:03pm Fri 19 Jun 09
Jesus_02
says...
1:08pm Fri 19 Jun 09
Fides wrote:Seconded. I am just hoping that a deal can be reached to save the club today so a can work on the headache of organising season ticket money.
stoopid wrote: I feel a bit sorry for MLT if all the hype around KK is just speculation based upon some bricky's mobile phone photo as seems the case. MLT & co spend weeks putting together a major deal to buy the club, cancel the debts and then it all appears a bit of a let down when there’s no big-name manager. If it’s true then brilliant – if not then let’s not take anything away from the Pinnacle team who have worked so hard to save the club.Well said. Mark Dennis is quoted as saying it's not KK. 15 mins ago no satellite trucks at SMS which suggests no national news story in the next hour or three. So let's keep our feet on the ground, and support MLT whether we have KK as manager or MW or the man in the moon.
stoney79
says...
1:29pm Fri 19 Jun 09
Mac78
says...
5:25pm Fri 19 Jun 09
stoney79 wrote:ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha thank you for keeping me amused while I am tensely awaiting news!!!
For fu@ks sake! Saints fans greeted with optimism yesterdays Daily Echo story that The Queen had been to Southampton recently. Although officially the visit of 2 June was to say a fond farewell to namesake cruise ship QE2 roomers persist that she may be the secretive multimillionaire behind the Pinnacle consortium. The Daily Echo has discovered that the Queen spent a considerable amount of her childhood in and around Beaulieu and the New Forest and believes that she may have developed a fondness for Saints as her local childhood team. The Echo has also discovered a number of additional links between Saints and the Queen. They are both from England, both have spent time on Cruise liners departing from Southampton and both have travelled abroad on planes. It is know that the Queen has met Sir Trevor Brooking, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson, along with David Beckham Alan Shearer, Gianfranco Zola, Steven Gerrard, Tony Adams, Lars Jesper Blomqvist and Peter Schmeichel at various times in recent history prompting our extremely board news room to widely speculate that the future Royal Saints FC may have positions for all of them. Slightly over excited and still at a loose end after this speculation, our roving reporter finished his liquid lunch at The Dolphin Hotel and, because he didn’t want to come back to the office stinking of ale, asked some passers buy what they thought of the story. Recently repossessed former estate agent Dave O’Gormless of the alley way between the two bits of the Tyrrel & Green looked up from his can of special brew and said “well the Queen does have lots of money and has met many footballers during the course of her official duties, but you wont tempt me back into buying a season ticket until she has personally ordered a nuclear strike on Rupert Lowe, as he is clearly the reason for the recent economic downturn which ruined my life as well as being personally accountable for all the other Saints fans not buying season tickets and therefore causing our financial woes” Local unemployable Chav Garry and side kick Tracey the Slapper said “Init mush, coz like shes well minted and that init, well good do init, Lowe Out, Crouch Out, no I mean in, Wotte Out, Biggest club, 3 year plan, Pinnacle deal already sealed” before pulling a knife and robbing what was left of our roving reporters Friday drinking money. Given this level of wordsmithery we have appointed Chav Garry as our new Crime correspondent, he will be starting next month – but it’s cash in hand so no one tell the DSS….
Chandlers Ford Saints
says...
9:29pm Fri 19 Jun 09
Mac78 wrote:Utter brilliant mate! Hilarious lol
stoney79 wrote:ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha thank you for keeping me amused while I am tensely awaiting news!!!
For fu@ks sake! Saints fans greeted with optimism yesterdays Daily Echo story that The Queen had been to Southampton recently. Although officially the visit of 2 June was to say a fond farewell to namesake cruise ship QE2 roomers persist that she may be the secretive multimillionaire behind the Pinnacle consortium. The Daily Echo has discovered that the Queen spent a considerable amount of her childhood in and around Beaulieu and the New Forest and believes that she may have developed a fondness for Saints as her local childhood team. The Echo has also discovered a number of additional links between Saints and the Queen. They are both from England, both have spent time on Cruise liners departing from Southampton and both have travelled abroad on planes. It is know that the Queen has met Sir Trevor Brooking, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson, along with David Beckham Alan Shearer, Gianfranco Zola, Steven Gerrard, Tony Adams, Lars Jesper Blomqvist and Peter Schmeichel at various times in recent history prompting our extremely board news room to widely speculate that the future Royal Saints FC may have positions for all of them. Slightly over excited and still at a loose end after this speculation, our roving reporter finished his liquid lunch at The Dolphin Hotel and, because he didn’t want to come back to the office stinking of ale, asked some passers buy what they thought of the story. Recently repossessed former estate agent Dave O’Gormless of the alley way between the two bits of the Tyrrel & Green looked up from his can of special brew and said “well the Queen does have lots of money and has met many footballers during the course of her official duties, but you wont tempt me back into buying a season ticket until she has personally ordered a nuclear strike on Rupert Lowe, as he is clearly the reason for the recent economic downturn which ruined my life as well as being personally accountable for all the other Saints fans not buying season tickets and therefore causing our financial woes” Local unemployable Chav Garry and side kick Tracey the Slapper said “Init mush, coz like shes well minted and that init, well good do init, Lowe Out, Crouch Out, no I mean in, Wotte Out, Biggest club, 3 year plan, Pinnacle deal already sealed” before pulling a knife and robbing what was left of our roving reporters Friday drinking money. Given this level of wordsmithery we have appointed Chav Garry as our new Crime correspondent, he will be starting next month – but it’s cash in hand so no one tell the DSS….
miltongirl
says...
1:15am Sat 20 Jun 09
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Southampton Heart says...
10:25am Fri 19 Jun 09