According to The Daily Telegraph Saints are near to appointing Claude Puel as manager, with an announcement expected by the middle of the week.

As I said in an earlier article, when Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph writes something about Saints there is usually some substance in it, there fore it is interesting to note that Wilson has again written a piece on the likely new Saints manager so soon after his previous article.

Wilson once again confirms that Saints had explored a number of options including many of the names that had featured high in the betting stakes, but further talks with Puel over the past few days have strengthened their opinion that he is the man for the job.

Saints have taken their time in making the appointment and I still think that they are hedging a little with Unai Emery still not taking over at PSG, but I would expect Puel o be announced by Wednesday.

Puel looks one of the best qualified candidates with the only real issue being his lack of experience outside of France, having spent all his career there as both player and manager.

Puel though emphasised that he sees moving to Saints as a long term move and that has been a factor in the club's thinking, add other ticks in the boxes and just about the only thing againsy hm was that lack of experience outside of his home country, however Mauriciao Pochettino had never managed outside of Spain and he has done well in this country.

The hope is that Puel will be unveiled on or before Wednesday meaning he can meet the players not involved with the Euros who are returning to Staplewood for the day for preliminary fitness tests.

One think Pule will not be though is the cheap option, he has considerable experience at the standards and levels that Saints require, that incudes winning the French League with Monaco, as well as extensive experience leading not only Monaco but his other three managerial charges Lille, Lyon & Nice to European qualification and subsequent campaigns.

Indeed Nice finished 4th in the season just gone and only missed out on the Champions League by 2 points and could potentially meet Saints in the Europa League.

Puel at 54 is at an age where he can combine experience whilst still being relatively young, he might not be a familiar name to Saints fans, but he as all the qualifications.

Photo: Action Images

BUCK added 18:58 - Jun 26 I don't think he's going to be a good signing
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lotus added 19:27 - Jun 26 i hoped that pellegrini would be the chosen one.he might have added more power with his record.dont know about puel.hope he could stop key players from going and can bring the team higher than last season
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Soton added 19:32 - Jun 26 I am very underwhelmed with the thought of Puel. It seems to say that although we have progressed over the years we still can't attract anyone better then relative unknowns in football management, other then Wenger I can think of a French manager who has achieved much in English football, I can't recall what Gerard Houllier ever did with Liverpool and Remie Gaurd was useless Oh well onwards and sideways..........and that's at best, it's looking like it might be a long season

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halftimeorange added 20:06 - Jun 26 We shouldn't dismiss him out of hand. Who'd heard of Pochettino before he arrived. Puel did okay at Lyon, maybe no so good at Nice but we don't know what he had at his disposal in terms of players. Assuming Wanyama and Mane are the only departures over the summer he'll be inheriting from Koeman a talented if incomplete squad. We might have a mid-table season but we might also see some of our development squad come through which hasn't recently been happening. He had a hand in schooling Hazard so that can't be bad. Too much doom and gloom around for me and if we don't like the way the board runs things then there are other things to do with one's money. I welcome this development (if it comes to fruition). It could have been Steve Mclaren - not really, as our board isn't that stupid. Be positive!

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simmo400 added 20:34 - Jun 26 He is the right price and that's all that counts. Saints are a business and profits count more than expensive managers. If he is to become let's welcome him but as to signing long term contracts we all know that's to boost compensation should he turn out to be good. Player or manager we all know this as R Konman taught us.
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kingolaf added 20:43 - Jun 26 I disagree with him not being the cheap option. But it would be nice to keep a decent manager long term. We'll see.
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kenis added 20:45 - Jun 26 "other then Wenger I can think of a French manager who has achieved much in English football, I can't recall what Gerard Houllier ever did with Liverpool and Remie Gaurd was useless" er Houllier's Liverpool won one FA cup, two League cups and the UEFA cup (plus a uefa super cup). That'll do me for saints! Key thing is the fit with the playing style, willingness to work with youth and the players we have. If he is the best fit of those available then I'm happy. Better than Moyes, and good to have someone with multi club and Europa experience as well. Let's hope he can work well with Dave Watson, Sammy Lee, Les Reed and Kelvin in that new role, if all that works the future could be very bright indeed - even if success could mean he's another one who could end up being linked with North London!

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IWOZTHERE added 21:15 - Jun 26 To be Honest I know nothing about him and details of his recent history are sketchy. Price usually is high on the club's prorities but Poch and Koeman both produced results so who knows, and there's nothing we can do about it anyway. Time will tell, and to be honest I'm more concerned about just how much power Les Reed wields, perhaps via 'puppet managers' through the team and higher up with a small board who solely rely on him for advice over football matters.

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rjh added 21:37 - Jun 26 A completely underwhelming appointment. Really disappointing.
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rjh added 21:37 - Jun 26 A completely underwhelming appointment. Really disappointing.
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BoondockSaint added 23:22 - Jun 26 Yep, perfect fit. Not expected to do anything, not a big name who would attract quality players (who-GASP!-would cost money), and doesn't send a message to other teams that we are serious about winning and are not a threat. For him, in a year or so, when we get relegated, it won't hurt his reputation because he will say it wasn't his fault as the club lacked ambition and would not spend the money to keep or buy the players he needed.

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HeyYouThere added 23:41 - Jun 26 Here we go again - Yee of little faith. Every year I read the same old crap from Saints forum users. Who f is Mane? Why would we sign a non name Arggie with no EPL experience from Spain, Why would Read sign Koeman? this shows the club has no ambition and we will be relegated...............wah wah wah Everyone of those past 5 years of forum doom mongering we have improved and still the same old record gets played, This time in a year or two you same people will be on here moaning about Puel being tapped up by one of the bigger clubs - prey tell, when you do you also have the guts to also admit you were wrong = AGAIN. The Lieberrs have built a massive company over decades of prudent management and by the record here they are doing the same with Saints - give them some credit please.

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richsaints added 00:24 - Jun 27 After all the nonsense we have put up with so far this summer I feel completely flat this week first 11 million on a championship sub and now this . I don't think he will get very long if we have a bad start which could well be the case don't think this is a good idea.
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SanMarco added 01:27 - Jun 27 Pellegrini would seem to me to have been a safer and at the same time more exciting appointment. The fact we haven't heard of this guy of course doesn't mean he wont be good. However, I would have liked something more inspiring given the fact the players are lining up to depart yet again - and Les is just waving them out of the door.
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schatfield added 08:46 - Jun 27 This one has a touch of the Remi Garde all about him.........hope I am wrong
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GeordieSaint added 11:01 - Jun 27 Have faith, I trust the board. Sure this guy knows a few gems in France to blow that Mane money on. Onwards and upwards.
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bstokesaint added 13:18 - Jun 27 I can't believe the amount of negativity on here. I admit I'm not as excited about Puel as I would be to household names likes de Boer or Pellegrini, but the club have obviously done some extensive due diligence. I also don't think that cost is the issue here either, as I reckon we'd have paid more (with Koeman money) if we felt we needed to. Other candidates have been ruled out with good reason, i.e. not managed enough clubs or not hands-on enough in training. You've got to give the bloke a chance. No-one knew who Poch was when he came to us and the negativity then was ridiculous. Then there was Koeman with his mixed managerial success, which many fans questioned. There is obviously a formula here which links all these candidates. It's worked before so surely there's every reason to believe it will again. The only thing I'm disappointed about today is the fact we look to have sold Mane for less than the £40m we stated would be needed to bring us to the table. A failure at that cost would raise some eyebrows in Merseyside and question whether stealing our players on our terms was a good strategy going forward.

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darkangelv2 added 13:20 - Jun 27 Seriously, I can't believe how negative everyone is being. Poch had no real record to speak of and everyone moaned. Ronald only had Dutch success with patchy records at various other clubs and everyone moaned. Both turned out pretty well! Have some faith in this club! Just because a name is or is not inspiring to you doesn't mean the players who are actually involved with the game and have friends in other leagues aren't inspired by Claude. Whoever comes in, knows they are in for a rough ride given every previous manager since Liebherr's arrival has improved on the previous years performance. I don't think even Ron could have managed that if NONE of our players left given that Chelsea are going to be far more competitive this year. Top half with hopes of a trophy and Europa knock out stages are my hopes for this year. I see league position to be interchangeable with Europa progression due to the pressures of extra games & sunday/Thursday games.

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Jesus_02 added 14:35 - Jun 27 TBH honest completely what I expected in terms of a PL unknown but not what I had hoped for. I thought Blanc was an outside chance but the manager was always going to be from a different league as that gives the team experience that it doesn't have elsewhere. I think that's what the Club value most, the fact Koeman was well known here was beside the point. Peul’s name WILL hold weight with players in Ligue 1 . Maybe players like Adam Ounas, or Amine Harit who recently decided to extend with Nante rather than join Man U, Arsenal or Barca too soon. So basically we can look to get good value from France now rather than Holland. We are all familiar with how Saints operate now, it’s just a question of how long we can get away with the same trick.. fingers crossed

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law101 added 17:20 - Jun 27 Ben Afra could be on his way... That said do we need another sulky maverick that goes missing over christmas? Tadic, Mane, Pelle to name a few!
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martinsaintis added 18:41 - Jun 27 i'm unsure with this guy as Puel is an unknown name to me but equally I'm happy with any decision the board make. i would like Laurent Blanc now he is available but we will always be a stepping stone for any managers career on the up. I really think we wont finish top six next season because with any new manager coming without premier league experience the first year will be difficult so my expectations have fallen a little since Koeman left. (hope to finish above any mersey side team) My dilemma is a big name manager will attract big name players which we need to push on - big name players are not always loyal long term and cost an absolute fortune. So i think i would be happy with an unknown as long as we keep the quality of players we have and the team spirit we have. Please no more departures lets build on what we got.

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