Katharina Liebherr's name has been removed from the list of directors of Southampton Football Club suggesting a takeover could be imminent.

Saints have been quietly going about the business of informing companies house of various changes to the club's board this week, but perhaps the listing that will make everyone take notice is that Katharina Liebherr has terminated her appointment as a director of the football club with effect from 30th June 2017.

This makes it very likely that the proposed deal with Lander Holdings is about to go through and that several new key members have been added to the board alongside others stepping down.

That means that an official announcement may be made within days with the media likely to pick up the story very soon.

This does not mean she has neccessarily ended her involvement with the club as it has been inferred she will still own a 20% shareholding, but it does look like whe will not be taking a hands on role, but leaving that to Ralph Krueger who looks likely to play a more prominent role than before.

Photo: Action Images

TeamCortese added 22:25 - Jul 2 Interesting...Let's see what's announced later this week...
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legod7 added 22:52 - Jul 2 She has resigned from the football side of SFC , but is still a director of the business side of SFC. Perhaps she now trusts Ralph & Les and Ross Wilson to run the football side with no interference from her.
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IanRC added 22:56 - Jul 2 I do hope Legod7 is correct. I think she, and her father before her, have been a great steadying influence on the club helping it to avoid many of the pitfalls encountered by other clubs that were in a similar position. IMHO we owe them a great deal and I hope she stays involved, the idea of an outright sale to Lander fills me with dread.
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eurosaint added 01:15 - Jul 3 Someone should probably tell companies house, as they seem to be unaware! https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06951765/officers
0

BaselSaint added 08:06 - Jul 3 Having only resigned from the footballing side I dont see this as so significant in itself. Whatever she does I am grateful to her and her late father for her dedication and loyalty to SFC.
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highfield49 added 09:39 - Jul 3 Admittedly I know absolutely nothing about commercial business but my first reaction to this news over the weekend was that Katharina had just decided to change the role she had taken on following the departure of Cortese, Whether this restructuring has anything to do with a takeover I suppose we'll find out quite soon but, in line with everyone else in the meantime, a huge thank you to the Liebherr family is due. Hopefully, she will be part of the club in some capacity for a long time to come.

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hmmm added 09:46 - Jul 3 There were a lot, and I mean a lot, of director changes on 19 June 2017 in companies related to Saints. Katherina resigned from several subsidiaries ( https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/q9HMP6tnGduOdc0vVrCbjy_geEU/appointm and is now only director/chair of the two. Whilst it may be nothing, things are certainly set up to make any future changes much quicker/easier

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bstokesaint added 12:38 - Jul 3 Not sure what this means, but I don't think it's any surprise given our current situation. Whatever it means, we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Liebherrs, for the most enjoyable football I can remember as a Saints' fan anyway.
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SanMarco added 13:24 - Jul 3 I am uneasy about all this. Looks like it will be a reverse takeover with them borrowing the money and then putting the debt onto the club (like the Glazer fiasco at Manure.) Is there any evidence that Lander have either money to spend or football expertise or knowledge of English football?
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bstokesaint added 13:46 - Jul 3 SanMarco, I totally share your concerns. I've yet to read anything which paints Lander in any kind of positive picture. I think they stand to make more out of this than us.
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