If as expected Ronald Koeman joins Everton, then a little bit of faith in football wil die in Saints supporters.

Most Saints supporters are not naive, they know that money is what motivates those who work in the game be they players, managers or coaches, but sometimes you feel that certain people are a little bit above that and Ronald Koeman appeared to be one of those people.

We felt that he had a class and dignity far above most in the game, we felt that he did things for the good of his career rather than the good of is bank balance and that is perhaps why if he should leave it will hurt us a lot more than any other manager who had departed Southampton Football Club in the past.

Given that a fortnight ago Koeman appeared happy at the club and had publicly said he would be here next season to see out his contract and indeed he was in negotiations to extend that contract beyond next summer, something has changed in that two week period.

One thing that had definitely changed was his agent and it seems his new man Rob Jansen is determined to get Ronald a move to a bigger club and more money, of course this is nothing to do with the money that Jansen would get if he did move.

So I don't particularly buy the viewpoint that Koeman wants to leave St Mary's for a bigger transfer budget, Koeman is no mug in the transfer market, he knows that if he got £150 million after the sale of John Stones and Romalu Lukaku then he would have to use every penny and that would still probably give him a team not much better than he already has at Saints.

So that leaves only the question of salary and reportably it will be £7 million a year at Goodison Park.

Of course Saints cannot get anywhere near that and nor would they want to, this would make Koeman joint 6th in the table of highest paid football managers in the World, as much as I love Koeman as Saints manager, he does not have the track record to warrant that position in football, the same wages as Everton's near neighbours at Anfield are paying Jurgen Klopp and more than Antonio Conte is getting from Chelsea and the £5.5 million Spurs are now paying Mauricio Pochettino.

I don't blame Koeman for wanting to earn this sort of money, however it saddens me that he will leave in this way.

We knew that someday he would move, but we thought it would be for a better job, Barcelona perhaps or the Dutch managers job, but Everton is very much a sideways step.

Indeed in terms of his career progression in the short term it is not going to help him, should one of his dream jobs come up in the next 18 months he would not be in a good position to take it, not least for the compensation that Everton would demand.

Saints of course will come in for stick from some of their own fans who will want to know why we are not matching Everton in both wages and transfer budget.

The truth is we can't and indeed we would not want to, we have a very clear strategy going forward and that doesn't include throwing stupid money to try and move up a place or two, which is all effectively we would be doing, for us its about steady and continueed progress.

Everton have a new shareholder who wants to make a name, although the two questions that haven't been answered are if he actually has this sort of money to hand, after all we have seen plenty of new football club Chairman come in with bluster but not back up their words with actions.

The second question is how spending this amount of money will affect Everton in the financial fair play league.

The other issue is that £150 million actually is not a lot, the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, not to mention Arsenal & Spurs will all spend big this summer, money does not guarantee success and realistically Everton will not be able to compete with these clubs in the transfer market for top players.

That being the case will Everton's financial backer be happy to fund big to just try and compete with Saints for 7th & 8th place and indeed if that is th case will he want to fund the same amount year in year out as those so called big clubs do.

Sadly I cannot see any other ending to this other than Koeman leaving St Mary's for Everton, as the title says every man has his price and that makes me very sad.

I will wish Ronald Koeman luck as he leaves, something that I could not do when Pochettino left, as a club he has taken us forward and we are in a far better place than two years ago.

I hoped that Ron was the man to keep taking us forward, but if he is not then I am not worried, the club will find a successor and he will continue to keep moving us forward, Southampton Football Club is based on a strategy throughout the club, unlike some it is not based solely on the manager.

We are envied by many for this strategy that is why so many covet our players and now our managers, but Saints are now more than just about who is employed, it is about continuing to do things in the right way and the way we have planned it, no matter what obstacles are in our way.

We March On !

Photo: Action Images

Supasaint9 added 11:56 - Jun 5 Up the Saints!!!!
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Big_T added 12:05 - Jun 5 I like Koeman, I liked the way he acted and spoke. Shame if he leaves but perhaps he feels he has done as much as he can and this is as good as he can do? Why else go to Everton to rebuild a squad and try to achieve what Saints have already done? It will be another year before he gets European football, at least. I wonder if rich shareholders desperate for quick success will be as patient if Everton go ten games without a win? Oh well it's all happened before and will happen again, look at Leicester, all the saints fans saying they have managed to keep the squad together, Vardy is jumping ship to Arsenal. If Koeman goes I will find it difficult to wish him well but I can thank him for two very good years, next manager onwards and upwards carefully and steady without risking the club please.

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DPeps added 12:09 - Jun 5 It's looking increasingly like RK is off. I've got mixed feelings about this, IF it does happen. As soon as he spoke about 'ambition' the other week it was clear that all was not well, as it seems that the club is not able or willing to match RK's ambition. We don't know exactly what the club offered and what RK wants, so it's hard to judge who's right here. There are some things we can draw out of this, though: The likelihood is that is that club is planning on sticking to its existing transfer policy of buy low-sell big, with players and managers allowed to leave for the right price. Evidently this policy has worked so far, but I wonder what degree of success a club can achieve operating like this? We've had relative success so far, but I'm not sure a club can operate with such a revolving door policy if it wants to have sustained success, by which I mean consistently finishing top 4 and actually winning stuff. I imagine this is the bone of contention for Ron. Our current policy is great for getting players, coaches etc. in to the club, but we can't keep hold of them easily because staff see us as a stepping stone. On the other hand, there are reasons to be optimistic even if RK does go. Key players have already signed long-term deals, and we remain an attractive option for new players and, crucially, new managers (please not Martinez!). I have faith that we can find a more than adequate replacement for RK if it comes to that. A final word on Ron. Regardless of what happens, he has been a good manager for us, and has taken the club on to the next level. Having said that, he has not been perfect: at times this season we have played poorly and, while finishing in sixth place is clearly a success, I feel he has made a lot of odd tactical decisions and player selections. We were very good in the second half of the season, but very ordinary in the first half. Ron also hasn't done a good job with the academy graduates, although that's maybe because he feels none of the present crop are equipped. All this shows that the club may need to reconsider what constitutes ambition and success in the long term, but at the same time I don't think we need to see a Koeman departure as a disaster.

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FaroSaint added 12:10 - Jun 5 A very well written article at this moment in time. It is true every man does have his price in football ,it was just that we thought RK was a man of his word, that makes it worse than when MC departed. I find it hard to believe that the situation can change so dramatically from that stated at the end of the season.I am stil desperately hoping that Saints can persuade RK to stay because I liked the football and the man . It is so sad that as a club we cannot seem to achieve a sustained period of continuity under one manager and i hope that this episode will not result in another exodus of similarly dissatisfied players as in previous years.Even so I have confidence that we will eventually appoint a quality manager. I am sure all saints fans are waiting with baited breath and having sleepless nights ,however a message from saints fc would be appropriate at this juncture to confirm whether they have been approached by EVERTON or not.

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ElGreco2 added 12:28 - Jun 5 Let's get a couple of thing straight first, Everton are the fourth most successful club in England, I would think that sending £100m would put us streets ahead of Southampton, apart from the goalkeeper I'd rather have Everton's squad. So, less of the Everton Knocking and more soul searching eh. Everton have a billionaire owner as do Southampton, yet you infer that Saints couldn't pay Koeman the money Everton could, poppycock. What this boils down to is the fact that Everton's billionaire wanted Koeman more than Saints billionaire and was prepared to stump up, while Saints were willing once again to let a quality manager leave. I wonder how many players will leave in his wake adding to your billionaires bank balance?

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lockseaf77 added 12:37 - Jun 5 How can you say they can't pay Koeman 7 million when they didn't seem too bothered about wasting 30 million on Ramirez who did precisely f uck all for this football club?
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LordDZLucan added 12:49 - Jun 5 Just a few observations: 1. Ronald hasn't gone yet. There is still hope he'll stay. 2. The core strength of a club is determined by long-term sustainable factors such as the infrastructure and the fans, not the current manager and players who unfortunately are generally not in it for the long-term 3. Everton are not the fourth most successful club in England by any modern day measure. Success in the 1900s is irrelevant. 4. If Everton overspend relative to their size then it will all go badly wrong. Look at Portsmouth as a case study!

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wopper added 12:54 - Jun 5 You can understand him going to Liverpool but why a joke club like Everton?
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darkangelv2 added 12:58 - Jun 5 @elGreco2 £100M can disappear very quickly these days unless your scouting team have already done a VERY good job scouting foreign leagues and don't overspend on players who have a good Euro 16 tournament. As for preferring your current squad, a very odd statement considering your squad only got you to the bottom half of the table. Don't think I'd taken any of your players other than Lukaku. Our billionaire is running us as a business, not a toy. Congratulations getting yourself an owner willing to sink his fortune into the club with no expectations of a return. Let's hope he doesn't get bored too quickly and pull the rug out from under you (see Portsmouth FC).

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helpineedsomebody added 13:08 - Jun 5 the custodion of sfc has said this club must live with in its means. she is not prepared to gamble huge sums of money for a few years of glory, big mac went down that road & it took us over 20 years to clear that mess. the new owner of everton football club is going to have to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on building a new team & a brand new ground how on earth is he ever going to get a return on his investment. may be he will do a man utd & pay the banks 1.5 million pounds a week in interest. with the huge money coming in from the new tv deal why would anybody want dedt. everton surporters enjoy the ride while it lasts you have the most attacking minded manager in the epl. mr koeman you have been the best manager this club has ever had,thank you & good luck, but you have no honour sir.

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1970 added 13:40 - Jun 5 Portsmouth didn't have any money they just pretended they did, they even ripped off st johns ambulance, we all know (even the Everton fan) money cant guarantee you success, maybe Everton will be able to compete for top 6 but so will we without throwing money at every opportunity, personally I agree with an earlier post about us being very ordinary in the first half of the season losing 3 nil to Everton and losing to Stoke come to mind, so good luck to Koeman and Everton it wont last if they don't compete at a high level I hope we don't go for Moyes, Martinez, or Howe but the Sevilla guy sounds very interesting, coyr.

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IanRC added 13:50 - Jun 5 A good demonstration of ignorance there from ElGrecko and in fairness from some of our own commentators. The money does not go to the owner it goes to the club. Our owner has invested substantially in the club with the view to building a sustainable future for it. This has seen a clear progression from where the family first became involved when we were in the third tier to last season when we finished sixth in the PL. Frankly arguments about which is the "bigger club" are juvenile at best but in terms of living memory I cannot recall Everton achieving anything close to that success. If he departs, as seems likely, this will demonstrate that he lacks integrity. At some stage in the future, whether at Everton or his next club, this will be his downfall. Let us see whether the new Everton owner puts his money where his mouth is. If Koeman leaves I look forward to our next appointment and our continued progression.

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IWOZTHERE added 13:56 - Jun 5 I feel so sickened by this. Also confused to the extent that I can't bring myself to even try to concoct a sensible post. (Don't say it!!!)
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IanRC added 14:11 - Jun 5 See the Independent says the agent is now claiming that he has been misquoted. What an amateur.
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BUCK added 14:13 - Jun 5 There's no point in speaking about this until it comes from les reed or ronald koeman.I personally think it's all a load of bollox and he will still be manager of Southampton next season, let's all hold back any nasty comment about koemans honesty or les reeds.
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pintsizedsaint added 14:18 - Jun 5 I want some of what ElGreco2 is smoking! Yea he's gone. The Telegraph seem to be Saints FC backchannel at the moment. Says this is a complete turnaround from last week. Something happened in between - we could speculate that his new agent has turned him and the lure of money was told much. But that seems out of keeping with RK - who doesn't seem motivated solely by money. Telegraph suggest RK saw Everton as better prospect for winning trophies (can only assume FA cup, capital one cup and possibly Europa?). I get a real feeling that he's thinking about Arsenal or Barca here - and sadly I think Everton is seen as a larger stepping stone. Perhaps he wants to show that he can cope with big budgets/expectations and massive player egos. Perhaps he's been told he needs to if he's to convince Arsenal and co. If Wenger does retire next year, RKs stay on merseyside may well ve short. As I've said before - it's a real gamble this one. I simply don't believe that Everton's new majority shareholder will accept anything other than instant success - that's why he's paying through the nose. And where does FFP come into this? Everton have considerably more revenue but not enough to compete with the big boys. They will be fishing around for the same players as us (which means we may miss out on a few then). And if we get Emery, I think we've upgraded! Im actually quite excited

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richsaints added 14:31 - Jun 5 The fact is the true owner of saints died when were in league one and the current inherited us and has a limit of commitment she will not pass as Cortese,poch and now koeman have reached.This will continue to happen unfortunately until she sells which after all must be tempting given what her dad paid for it with all said it's a tribute we are back we are now thanks to pardew and Nigel who if I remember right we crapped on both of them from a great height so good luck next boss.

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densham41 added 14:37 - Jun 5 Like every supporter I to am gutted by the potential loss of RK?. However as a club we should not be held to ransom for a wage we cannot commercially afford. Without the premier league TV income we'd be loosing millions a year. For anyone who's been to Aresenal, Mau Utd, Liverpool, Newcastle your see hundreds if not thousands of sold out corporate seats and boxes,while ours seldom sell out. I'd wager a bet that we rank in the bottom four premier leagues clubs in coperate sales. The club the way I see it for now have got things right. I do have a however. If RK goes the club should hold Everton and Koleman to ransom. As he has a year left on his contract warrant compensation to a level of your best player with a year left on his contract. Everton should pay 10 million for Koleman or Koleman stays. Love to see how that would pan out?

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richsaints added 14:46 - Jun 5 Agreed would love just for once don't cooperate with the rich bully and say NO and see what happens
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halftimeorange added 14:58 - Jun 5 If Ron wants out then he'll be a liability here but he might just be a liability at Everton - he could be their Osvaldo. Big price, big failure. Only time will tell whether he can cut the mustard in Liverpool. I'm dying to know who'll replace him and which players are moving out and in.
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ThereIn76 added 15:13 - Jun 5 The Premier League is becoming a billionaires' willy-waving contest. Moshiri wants to pay well over the odds for a manager in order to destabilise a rival club. Why? Because he can. FFP - give me a break. I still have a feeling that the agent may be playing games here, putting out a series of short tweets and leaving them for English journalists to interpret. He could be trying to strengthen RK's hand for negotiation of a contract extension with Saints - whilst testing the water to see what Everton might offer Frank de Boer (whom he also represents.)

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aceofthebase added 15:14 - Jun 5 What sort of contract is RKs brother on? Will he leave and maybe more compensation. How many other staff members will want to go to the frozen North? If RK stays I for one would be very pleased but no-one is irreplaceable. Whilst he has achieved wonders in the past two years if he goesthen we are free to criticise the errors that even this season has cost us games and top notch European football. Too many games were played with ten men as Clasie was not up to the job and the purchases of Juanmi, Clasie, Soaress and maybe Martina have not been good. The formations he has played with have not always worked. Look I am just saying that he was/is far from perfect. What cannot be denied is that he had a charming presence and I'm sure that throughout the club he was well liked and the team 'played' for him. Everton will demand more than charm and I feel that the boo boys of Everton will have a field day by Christmas if they are in the bottom half of the table (where they deserve to be!)

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richsaints added 15:33 - Jun 5 Eddie Howe or Emery both interesting heart says give the young englishman his step up but the head says european winner is a no brainer also if its howe are we then just as bad as the scousers.
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landerwal added 15:42 - Jun 5 For Koeman, a move to Everton could be his worst career move. 100 million pounds would only buy 4 player of Morgan Schnielen's ability. Given that the Everton team are an ageing one and if we believe the gossip, their 2 best players are on their way out, Koeman's ambitions for the Barcelona or Holland job could lie in ruins after a season or two of mediocre results like the last two Everton seasons. As far as Saint's future is concerned, a new ambitious manager and the shrewd buying of new players like the last few close seasons could well see us improving on last season's position in the PL without Koeman.

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ElGreco2 added 15:50 - Jun 5 Therein76, I hope you're right and Southampton make an offer he can't refuse, he's not my first choice by far, plus I don't like people who walk away. The thing is has he queered his pitch with all these goings on and would you welcome him back into the fold? LordDZLucan, Football started before the Premier League, or didn't Saints win the cup? Was Bobby Stokes a figment of my imagination? Of course not. Cup and League wins are there for everyone to see.......Forever!!

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