THANK you for your brave and enlightening interview with Ralph Krueger. At last someone has asked him the probing questions, most of which he let slide past him with all the nous of an ice hockey man.

Under the great Markus, it was so exciting to hear constantly about the five-year plan. It seemed truly ambitious and I don’t remember ever hearing that we are just a “small club”, with the implication that we should somehow be happy to settle for mediocrity. It seemed like an ambition to make us bigger and better and not to settle.

So where did that ambition go? Perhaps the answer lies in Krueger’s glib assertion that the “business” side is doing well, as if he truly thinks that is what will make fans happy. The business is that paying customers are still giving up their hard earned cash, despite the dire performances on the pitch. I am happy for you Ralph, well done. I hope you get a good end-of-year bonus.

The sad thing is that this type of chairman never realises until it’s too late that they are in the entertainment industry and when the entertainment stops, so does the revenue.

On a final note, where is Mr Gao? He clearly bought the club for a reason, so what was it? It might be nice to know what his ambition is.

We are not a “small club”, we are a club built on passion and belief that we can grow and be bigger and better.

All we need is a board that understands football and shares the same vision. You do, after all, work for us whether you realise it or not.

Andy Heather

Southampton