Adkins: "Fantastic" Saints are back in the big time

2:40pm Saturday 28th April 2012 in Saints News

Adkins: "Fantastic" Saints are back in the big time Adkins: "Fantastic" Saints are back in the big time

AN emotional Nigel Adkins hailed Saints’ “fantastic” achievement as the club secured promotion back to the Premier League.

The manager was choking back the tears after watching his team destroy Coventry 4-0 to book a place in the top flight.

“Isn’t it fantastic, Southampton are back in the Premier League,” declared Adkins. “I’m very, very proud and honoured. I’m a happy man.”

The Saints boss paid tribute to his players, as well as all the other people at the club, for their role in what has been achieved.

“They deserve all the plaudits they get, because they’ve been magnificent since I joined this football club,” said Adkins.

“They’ve worked so hard every day, they’re so professional, and the coaching staff we’ve got, the medical staff, everyone at this football club has worked their socks off.”

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Comments(67)

MelbourneSaint says...
2:42pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Legend!!!

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DisplacedFan says...
2:44pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Well done Nigel and Nicola.

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Nic on the N332 says...
2:47pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Absolute top bloke, Mr Adkins. You are a credit to Southampton Football Club. We wish you continued success in the PREMIER LEAGUE!

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SaffaSaint says...
2:49pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Adkins you are a lengend

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Ontario Saint says...
2:49pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Congratulations from Brazil. Amazing game today , Saints played wonderful football . A wonderful day in the History of the Club

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RisingSon says...
2:49pm Sat 28 Apr 12

The manager, the team, the support staff and the supporters, bluddy brilliant.

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SAINTS 4 EVER says...
2:52pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Nigel you are a legend and always will be.A Big Big thankyou on behalf of all Saints fans you should get manager of the season now.
C.O.Y.R in the Premier League

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Saint_rob says...
2:56pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Markus Liebherr, Nicola & Nigel you are all legends.

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rob the saint in NZ says...
2:56pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Thankyou Saints!

One very happy expat here at nearly 2am Sunday morning, my Kiwi missus has gone to bed, I'm sat here on my own drinking champagne with a great big smile on my face!

What more is there to say, more coherent thoughts will follow tomorrow.

WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!!

Thankyou Markus.

Thankyou the Liebherr family.

Thankyou Nicola Cortese.

Thankyou Nigel Adkins.

Thankyou to the whole squad & everyone at Southampton Football Club.

COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ACTSaint says...
2:57pm Sat 28 Apr 12

NC and NA thanks so much for what you have achieved. Absolute amazing couple of years.

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mcted says...
2:58pm Sat 28 Apr 12

back where SFC should be, in the top flight...now lets take it to the next level...a fantastic day..lets PARTY tonigh

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saintalbanssaint says...
3:03pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Could not be happier....!

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St.David says...
3:03pm Sat 28 Apr 12

So proud of everyone who is involved in this club!! We are premier league!! What a fantastic year we have had. . .what a day. . I really do feel this is just the beginning. . . Watch out Premier league. . . We're coming for you. . . We're coming for you. . . Premier league. . . We're coming for you!!!!!m COYRs. :-)

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Santo Levante says...
3:05pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Only wish that I could have been there. Fantastic achievement, congratulations to Nicola, Nigel and all the staff, you are legends. Cheers guys, I´m so proud to be a Saints fan. COYR

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lesham says...
3:05pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Great day.
Back where we belong !!!!!!

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Medway Saint says...
3:07pm Sat 28 Apr 12

One word - Quality!

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KieraninSydney says...
3:14pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Fantastic work by everyone involved at the club! Congratulations from Sydney. I was there last season for the final 2 games, and know what St Marys would have been like today... Past midnight here, and im still singing and pestering friends with EPL clubs and ribbing them!!! The Saints are going up!!

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Ayrshire Saint says...
3:15pm Sat 28 Apr 12

What a team........

i agree with Medway

"Quality"

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Saints down under says...
3:21pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Perfect just perfect!!

Well done to the whole club you have been fantastic now let's bring on Rooney and co!!

Whis Fkin laughing now!!!!!

Super super saints.

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PerthSaint says...
3:22pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Watched the game live here in Perth,Australia. Started following Saints as a kid after seeing the odd highlight of Le Tiss in a weekly EPL highlight show, and because everyone else here follows Man U or LFC! What a proud night in my little part of the world!!

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florida saint says...
3:22pm Sat 28 Apr 12

saints i effin love you all , the saints back in the prem.we will enjoy every moment of it. well done n/a and all the team and of course the amazingly loyal fans that has stuck with the club during our league 1 days you are immense.im off to get well and trully p1ssed here in florida.hope theres the party of all partys in southampton tonight . enjoy..sha la la la la la la who the f@ck is laughing now.

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up saints says...
3:22pm Sat 28 Apr 12

job done left it late but nice to do it in front of the home fans on the last day.so on that note a big thanks to pompey pill and whitesick for the last minute goal..congrats too all the team back room staff and the tea lady bless her.

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only1chopper says...
3:25pm Sat 28 Apr 12

That one was for you Markus. Thank you to you and your family for saving our club and providing the backing we needed to achieve our aim, getting back to the premier league.
NA and NC, thank you for bringing in stability, belief and the players needed to reach our goal, back to back promotions.
You are all legends.
Thank you

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Meribelsaint says...
3:27pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Saint_rob wrote:
Markus Liebherr, Nicola & Nigel you are all legends.
Second that. Never been so proud to be a Saint.
COYR

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syaphezulu(we r going up) says...
3:28pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Congratulation from the South Southampton Zulu fan in South africa

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Scunthorpe United says...
3:29pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Very well done, Nigel and Andy, from a Scunthorpe fan in Newbury. You took us as far as you could and we knew that you would go on to better things. All the best in the Premiership!

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milton road says...
3:31pm Sat 28 Apr 12

We have shrewd owners. Turned the debt into shares. Saints have gained promotion, the club's value has just gone up considerably.
If the family approve it we have 90mil to invest. Southampton has suddenly become a very profitable investment.

Increased revenue this season at the gate.
Increased merchandise sales.
revenue from 10 live matches.

Fantastic training facilities.

The club is one of the strongest financially in the top flight. How many other clubs are clear of debt in the premiership?

We have a chairman and manager who will spend wisely.

Players we may have lost if promotion had not been won will now stay. That includes academy level.

Bless you Markus

Thank you Nicola and Nigel.

To all the supporters and players fantastic.

So wish i could of been there.

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mattletisser is god says...
3:34pm Sat 28 Apr 12

I think Nigel was probably our best buy of the last 2 years

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SaintClements says...
3:35pm Sat 28 Apr 12

milton road wrote:
We have shrewd owners. Turned the debt into shares. Saints have gained promotion, the club's value has just gone up considerably.
If the family approve it we have 90mil to invest. Southampton has suddenly become a very profitable investment.

Increased revenue this season at the gate.
Increased merchandise sales.
revenue from 10 live matches.

Fantastic training facilities.

The club is one of the strongest financially in the top flight. How many other clubs are clear of debt in the premiership?

We have a chairman and manager who will spend wisely.

Players we may have lost if promotion had not been won will now stay. That includes academy level.

Bless you Markus

Thank you Nicola and Nigel.

To all the supporters and players fantastic.

So wish i could of been there.
Couldn't have put it any better.

We've played beautiful football all season.

Never been so proud in all my 30 years as a Saints fan.

Nuff said.

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olddellsaint says...
3:40pm Sat 28 Apr 12

What can I say apart from everybody at Southampton FC a very big Thank You and of course all the fans.

'WE ARE BACK IN THE PREMIERSHIP' YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSS

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stormus troupias the 1st says...
3:46pm Sat 28 Apr 12

syaphezulu(we r going up) wrote:
Congratulation from the South Southampton Zulu fan in South africa
when i read posts like yours i feel so proud to be a saints fan

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SFCOLDBOY says...
3:51pm Sat 28 Apr 12

RedArmy1,

This is for you.
You deserve a medal today.
Your faith and determination all year has been truly fantastic.
I am proud to support such a fantastic team.
Next season cannot come too soon.
Keep up this for next year.

PRIDE PASSION

PREMIER FOOTBALL TEAM

COYR.

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up saints says...
3:51pm Sat 28 Apr 12

just thought i would be first to mention the word hooper.seriously well earned rest.less haste more speed and think we will be canny and pick up the jos and lee of this world.

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Dublincharlie says...
3:53pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Awesome, chuffed as a proverbial, now let's tear up the premier league.

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Ashley Charles Pragnell says...
4:07pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Glasgow Saint
Congratulations Nigel you have done what Ted and Laurie did, but I believe you are going to take us further. A few additions for next season . Prehaps we can have a look at Victor Moses he is not going to sign a new contract at Wigan. Already scored two goals already to day.

I big thank you to Adam Morgan and Kelvin for staying loyal to the Saints. Lambo and Adam for England. Its good to be back where we belong .

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McBendy in Scotland says...
4:08pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Whooooooooooooo! Made up like u wouldn't believe!

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Rocket 1 says...
4:09pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Saints forever Popping Bubbles, Pretty Bubbles In the Air, They fly so high they reach the Sky and just like West Ham They fade and Die. Enough Said, well done Saints, Pride of the South

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gordongull says...
4:16pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Congratulations on your return to the top flight, you've been awesome this season.
The fixture list will be released on June 18th, for anyone who still can't believe it.

UTA COYR!!!!

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tugboat says...
4:25pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Trying to type through tears to be honest,thanks to Redarmy1,strazzie,he
dge end bob,seed,slugger ,bad bill,puppy,yorkie,an
gusmecoatup ,tirau dan and others who without their positivity,this forum would have been like picking spuds on a rainy afternoon.See you all next season and beyond......never give up.
Nigel Adkins-GENIUS,its been emotional.

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Gibseagull says...
4:26pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Congratulations Saints - you really deserve it and should've been promoted as champions - good luck in the Premiership

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Medway Saint says...
4:27pm Sat 28 Apr 12

All of a sudden, I find myself interested in the premiership relegation battle - only those who escape the drop, of course!

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milton road says...
4:54pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Its good to see Gull fans on here wishing us well. Hopefully their turn next season.
For the first time in a long while there are 3 strong clubs in the south Saints, Royals and Gulls.
The Premiership is a mountain to climb but in NC NA we trust

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Alicesdad says...
5:06pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Nigel has carved out his place in Saints history. I now look forward to him taking on the big boys at their own game.

I look forward to BEING one of the biggest teams in the premiership.

What a wonderful day !!!

I'm singing in the rain !!!!!!!!!!

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magnette says...
5:07pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Second last year, second this year, I said all along Adkins was a second rate manager!
:-)

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Confucious says...
5:15pm Sat 28 Apr 12

So that was the Championship - just passing through!

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Confucious says...
5:20pm Sat 28 Apr 12

syaphezulu(we r going up) wrote:
Congratulation from the South Southampton Zulu fan in South africa
Usuthu!

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SaintMax says...
5:26pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Thankyou Markus, thankyou Nicola!

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Ashley Charles Pragnell says...
5:28pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Magnette must be a Skate. sour grapes one thinks. Adkins is a legend along with Ted and Laurie. You bunch of has beens are going out of business, due to living beyond your means. We are the Mighty Saints and pompey will making history for going into liquidation. We play good football, we have a Fifa five star rated stadium superb training facilities and pompy play in dump of a ground and have to train in Eastleigh. Who's laughing now pompy phil can go and hide under his stone, press box teaboy has been made redundant and whitelines is banned. Today we are celebrating and in Nigel and Nicola we trust to take us to the next stage in our journey.

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JohnItaly says...
5:30pm Sat 28 Apr 12

A big well done to the team and entire staff on a second promotion. It is very comforting to hear various commentators stating what an excellent set-up the club has and is clearly in an excellent position to establish themselves in the Premiership. Going to be a second interesting summer keeping a weather eye on all the rumours. Love it!! A big thank-you to the Leibherr family and to NC in particular for acting in a thoroughly professional manner throughout his tenure which is a lesson a lot of club chairmen could, and should, learn from.

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JohnItaly says...
5:30pm Sat 28 Apr 12

A big well done to the team and entire staff on a second promotion. It is very comforting to hear various commentators stating what an excellent set-up the club has and is clearly in an excellent position to establish themselves in the Premiership. Going to be a second interesting summer keeping a weather eye on all the rumours. Love it!! A big thank-you to the Leibherr family and to NC in particular for acting in a thoroughly professional manner throughout his tenure which is a lesson a lot of club chairmen could, and should, learn from.

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City Saint says...
6:18pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Nigel has taken a lot of stick this year for talking in sound bites and couches. But he never gets too down whem we lose, or too big when we win. He is honest about our deficincies when the crop up, and insists on pointing out four positives for each negative when going match reviews with he team. He took us through to wobbles this season, and put together our best start to a campaign ever, against all the odds as a newly promoted team. Nigel is a gentleman, and a world class manager. He was tearful in his motd interview. What a man, and a true saint. We're lucky to have him.

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prideofthesouth says...
6:33pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Well done to Nigel,the players and all of us Saints fans.We have been in the top two all season and finished in style.Lets all have a great party tonight and paint the city RED AND WHITE.WE R PREMIER LEAGUE,WE R PREMIER LEAGUE.

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St.David says...
6:54pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Now it really begins. . . What a summer we will all have. Amazining day. . .fantasic year.. . We are gonna shake the premier league up from its core!!! What a great day and so on board with where NC and NA are taking us. . . Where we all want to be.v . WELL DONE to all. Happy Daze,,, COYRs

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Don222Aaa says...
6:57pm Sat 28 Apr 12

First we were going to be relegated to league two, then we wouldnt go up from leaguer one, then the championship and now we are going to be relegated. Maybe if the blue few concentrated on their own club and their own sad little lives they might stand a chance !! Coyr

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BRIAN from bartley says...
7:05pm Sat 28 Apr 12

I left the ground in tears, well done to everyone at the Club, just a pity that Markus was not there to enjoy the Celebrations.

Thank you Nicola, from a Saints supporter for the last 68 years.

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Salar says...
7:32pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Confucious wrote:
So that was the Championship - just passing through!
I have been on the bus since League 1, however I was not told that it was the Premiership Express. I believe the timetable mentioned a longer journey - some talk of 4 to 5 years - I must have read the wrong timetable!!

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Drape says...
8:37pm Sat 28 Apr 12

My first memory of Saints in promotion/relegation was losing to Bury in Div 2 to be demoted to Div 3 South. But then Ted Bates, Lawrie Mac, and now Nigel A whose achievement has been the best of all.

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Andy_Germany says...
9:05pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Congrats to all at the club for making thousands of fans soooooo happy.

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West Cork Saiint says...
9:14pm Sat 28 Apr 12

From a proud saints fan in West Cork, Well done Nigel, well done lads. Markus was first on my mind at the final whistle. He would have been a happy man and every saints fan salutes him as we owe it all to him. Cheers big guy!

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circa 66 saint says...
9:34pm Sat 28 Apr 12

the team have done the biz and deserve all the accolades going. but i think the supporters also have played their part from the guy who has seen one game to the ones who would rather die than miss a game i salute each and every one of you.
the messages on this site are passionate and heartfelt proving football is a matter of life and death.

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Saint. says...
1:16pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Saint_rob wrote:
Markus Liebherr, Nicola & Nigel you are all legends.
The only thing to add here is THANK YOU ALL THREE!!!

But really all day and most of the season I have been thinking of Markus! Our Saint up stairs!!! THANKS Markus!!!!

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madmike says...
8:21pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Thanks Nigel you r one great manager. Thanks Nicola But mostly Thanks Markus.Without you we wouldn't be celebrating anything.A true Saint in heaven.

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madmike says...
8:21pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Thanks Nigel you r one great manager. Thanks Nicola But mostly Thanks Markus.Without you we wouldn't be celebrating anything.A true Saint in heaven.

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madmike says...
8:21pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Thanks Nigel you r one great manager. Thanks Nicola But mostly Thanks Markus.Without you we wouldn't be celebrating anything.A true Saint in heaven.

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madmike says...
8:21pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Thanks Nigel you r one great manager. Thanks Nicola But mostly Thanks Markus.Without you we wouldn't be celebrating anything.A true Saint in heaven.

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saintray says...
8:59pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Well done Nigel,We couldnt have done it without a man like you to lead our Saints as you have done over the short period that you have been with this great club,all the best to you and all those backroom chaps for a job well done.

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lowe esteem says...
11:40am Mon 30 Apr 12

Ashley Charles Pragnell wrote:
Magnette must be a Skate. sour grapes one thinks. Adkins is a legend along with Ted and Laurie. You bunch of has beens are going out of business, due to living beyond your means. We are the Mighty Saints and pompey will making history for going into liquidation. We play good football, we have a Fifa five star rated stadium superb training facilities and pompy play in dump of a ground and have to train in Eastleigh. Who's laughing now pompy phil can go and hide under his stone, press box teaboy has been made redundant and whitelines is banned. Today we are celebrating and in Nigel and Nicola we trust to take us to the next stage in our journey.
It could be IRONY from West Ham or Scunthorpe.
Get back on theBus -Moving On Up.

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