The comments of Les Reed after the announcement of Calum Chambers to Arsenal have not pacified Saints supporters, far from it they are even more incensed.
The famous saying is "The buck stops here" and that has to be the case for Les Reed who after telling the world he is in charge of transfers at Southampton Football Club is not enamouring himself to the supporters with his latest comments.
The departure of Dejan Lovren was not a major shock to Saints fans, but Calum Chambers to Arsenal feels like a kick in the teeth.
"Calum made it clear to us that he did not see his future at Southampton. As such, it was crucial that we were able to negotiate a substantial fee that also reflects the work our staff have put into Calum’s development since he joined the club at the age of eight.
These were the words of Les Reed on the Clubs official wesite, of course fans know that players harbour ambitions of playing at the top clubs and for the top wages, but a year ago before he had made a Premier league appearance Chambers was happy enough to sign a four year deal, now he should have been made aware in quite certain terms that he would be sold when it suited Saints and that is certainly not at this very moment just after we have lost yet another player.
We should have told Chambers that he would not be allowed to leave until the squad has been strengthened, we now have five players out and only two in, whilst we are being linked with a host of players the fact is that being linked is not actually signing them, yes by all means let Chambers go to Arsenal, but let him depart on our terms not his.
Yes the most important thing is to make sure that the squad has the strength in depth but more than that it is the PR value, Saints supporters have had enough of rumours over the last six months both good and bad, it is worse when it seems to be all the bad ones happening quickly and the good ones seemingly just as far from fruition.
It is bad enough losing Chambers, but truth is although as a right back we already have Nathaniel Clyne at the club, with the departure of Lovren and Shaw we are short at the back, it is just bad management to let Chambers go before we have secured some incoming defenders.
So im afraid the buck has to stop somewhere and that somewhere is squarely at the feet of Les Reed's door, plenty of fine words over the last few months but every time its cut to the chase we have been found wanting, if Arsenal wanted Chambers that badly then they would have waited, whether that wait was one week, two weeks or even a season should have been controlled by Saints, we have shown weakness, Im sorry but for many supporters Les Reed is going to have to pull some rabbits out of hats now, he has set his stall out, to the suporters at least as a man who is not in charge, perhaps the players think that also and know that if they apply a little pressure then they will be allowed to leave no matter what the contract says.
As I said in an earlier article today, I still have faith in Katharina Liebherr to do the right things by this football club, I still have faith that we are in a lot better position than we were two years ago as well as being better structured than most in the Premier to keep moving forward, however Im not certain that Les Reed is the man for the job he is doing.