3:10pm Thursday 9th July 2009
SAINTS manager Mark Wotte said he was instantly impressed by new owner Markus Liebherr.
Wotte met the Swiss billionaire a month ago when he toured the club, along with his representatives.
The Dutchman believes Liebherr is the right man to take the club into the future.
“I met Mr Liebherr and his representative four weeks ago when they were visiting Staplewood and St Mary’s,” said Wotte.
“Immediately I had a good feeling with them.
“It is such a respectable company and Mr Liebherr is such a respectable businessman.
“His reputation is outstanding and he is exactly what we need for the long term.”
Wotte, who has been retained as Saints boss for another year, said he expects to remain at the club and have an excellent working relationship with the new people in charge.
“I signed a contract as manager for at least one year, so there is no indication they want to change that,” he said.
“They were happy with me that I was loyal to the club, that I kept things running and they expressed that they were grateful and that we have to prepare the team as good as possible for the league.”
Wotte said he would not comment on contract or player issues.
Before doing so, he will sit down with the new owners and discuss plans on the playing side.
“We are not going to take quick, overnight, decisions,” he said.
“We will have a very thorough look at the football plan, the team, the contract players, the players who have run out of contract and the budgets.”
Wotte added: “This club has almost been dead and buried and the most important thing for the future is we never put Southampton Football Club in the same situation as the last four or five months.
“When we informed the players and the staff yesterday, everybody was extremely relieved that this black period for Southampton Football Club is over.”
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