THE list is a long one.

Rod Stewart, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Richard Branson, Michael Wilde, David Frost, Gavyn Davies, Paul Allen, Marc Jackson, Dan Williams, Tom Scott, Anthony Salz, a mystery worldwide financial group, Jim Ratcliffe, Michael Fialka, SISU, Quentin Hubbard, Marcus Evans, Leon Crouch.

An eclectic mix of personalities and groups indeed.

All have been linked with putting money into Saints or taking control at St Mary’s in the last three years.

Some of the above had credible links; others were pure figments of some supporters’ vivid imaginations.

Some were no doubt serious about investing in the club; others less so.

Some were happy to go public with their aims; others preferred a shroud of secrecy.

Only one is known to have put any money in, and that is Crouch.

Three years of speculation, rumour, counter rumour and at times total fabrication have now come to an end.

The announcement that have clinched a deal to become the club’s new owners was met with Saints fans brushing metaphorical oceans of sweat off their brows.

Finally, the frustratingly long search for new investment appears over.

Some of the above have fabulous wealth, but they didn’t feel strongly enough to invest any of it into Southampton Football Club.

That is not the case with Markus Liebherr, the man from a family dynasty whose companies export cranes and other construction equipment.

The Markus Liebherr whose own group of companies deal with the manufacturing of ‘common rail systems’.

Markus who?

Indeed. Little is known about the German-born Swiss national who has emerged as the potential saviour of a club he has never seen play.

But what we do know is that he’s put some of his extreme wealth into buying Southampton Football Club.

He refused to walk away even after Mark Fry had ignored him back in May and awarded the period of exclusivity to the Pinnacle group.

For that, he will get the thanks of the thousands of Saints fans out there who have experienced an emotional ride these past few months.

Liebherr was not the only person interested in buying the club after the Pinnacle deal collapsed.

A worldwide financial services group were also desperately keen to take control.

But administrator Mark Fry chose Liebherr – much to the annoyance of Keith Harris who was negotiating on behalf of the worldwide group – and only Fry can tell us exactly why.

Liebherr’s first quotes – given exclusively to the Echo yesterday – couldn’t be faulted.

It would be nice if he was in Southampton now to enlarge on them, but I guess we can’t have everything.

After all, Saints fans will this morning be delighted to just have a club to support In time we will know more about Markus Liebherr, and more about his plans for the club.

It is up to Liebherr and the people he will put in key places to bring the feelgood factor back to St Mary’s.

We can only wish him well.

Because the club needs that feelgood factor more than ever.