I AM very glad not to be back in Hampshire witnessing the dreadful chain of events at Southampton Football Club since Mr Cortese left.

I certainly had a sense of foreboding when he departed last January, and everything that has transpired since leads me to believe that Miss Liebherr has no real interest in the club and is indeed selling off as many intangible assets as possible without replacing them as promised, because she wishes to maximize her return on her father’s investment.

It is my view that these events are the prelude to the sale of the club, simply because the value of intangible assets are virtually impossible to predict and are therefore best sold separately.

I find it strange in view of the obvious trend to dispose of every member of the first team if possible that the Echo has not seen fit to request an interview with Miss Liebherr, when the appropriate questions can now be asked instead of the carefully rehearsed questions that had no doubt been agreed previously when Les Reed was last interviewed.

While some might wish to disagree with my central premise of an orchestrated fire sale there is no evidence of any real attempt to replace players with others that have been sourced by the club rather than by the incoming manager, in spite of Reed’s claims that the club is constantly reviewing data with regard to transfer targets.

I am simply appalled by Reed’s behaviour, the man has no regard for the club or its fans and is simply there to do Liebherr’s bidding.

Since any letter I might send the club is unlikely to get a response, perhaps you would make an effort on behalf of the fans to get some serious answers from the club and preferably Liebherr herself, as we have clearly been deliberately misled.

DAVID NEVILLE SMITH, Beja, Portugal.