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Sports Republic Should Act With Caution And Not Haste

Sports Republic are being seen as again rushing into appointing a new manager in haste as they did with Nathan Jones, who was then allowed to take charge at Liverpool in the final game before the World Cup break.

Whilst I can see that Sports Republic are keen to sweep what has happened in the last year under the carpet and get on with the future, they are missing the point that there has to be a grieving process.

The sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl and the appointment of Nathan Jones was done with indecent haste and more to the point when there was no need to do so given the World Cup break only days away, it was also folly to allow Nathan Jones to take charge in that game at Anfield, an inevitable defeat only heightened criticism amongst the fanbase and gave them 6 weeks to stew on it.

If they think that appointing Russell Martin now will calm things down, even worse that they think that letting him take charge, ironically against Liverpool on Sunday will be a good thing, that the fans will applaud him and welcome him as the saviour of the club, NO ! they will see him as part of the problem, not part of the solution, Sports Republic have to earn the Saints fans respect by actions and not words yes, but they need to be seen as being in control and not lurching from one disaster to another.

If they are going to appoint Martin and lets face it everyone in the media surrounding Saints feel it is a done deal, then they need to hold back, let this week run its course, let the Saints supporters vent their fury and get it out of the system on Sunday.

Let Sunday be a day to grieve, get the frustrations out, yes it won't be pleasant, but it will be far worse if Russell Martin is in the stadium. Get this season out of the way, don't blur it into next one by making us a laughing stock and having 4 managers in one season.

No offence against Russell Martin, if he is appointed he will not be my choice, but I will back him, if only because I have no choice, I cannot make Sports Republic change their minds, I just hope they are right and i am wrong, I want Saints to be promoted, I want us to succeed.

Likewise all the Saints supporters, give them time to come to terms with the mistakes made this season and then give them time to let used to the idea of Russell Martin as the next manager, don't make it feel like a hurried desperate appointment as the arrival of Nathan Jones and subsequent appointment of Ruben Selles felt.

But perhaps more importantly, don't let the new manager try to run a club with Premier League Promotion aspirations to do so with a coaching staff with little or no experience above League One.

That has perhaps been the biggest mistake since sacking Ralph, our coaching staff including the two managers in situ, had no real experience at the highest level, one source told me our coaching methods went back 10 years when Jones arrived, when Selles was appointed a skeleton first team coaching staff where only boosted by Dave Horseman from the B Team.

I can see why Sport Republic want to get on with things quickly, why they want the new manager in now so he can get on with things and have time to make changes, but waiting another week will not make much difference.

Even if they felt that Martin was their man, there was no need to splash it across the media, someone has leaked it, probably not Southampton FC or even Russell Martin, but it should have been kept under wraps until the Liverpool game is over.

Personally I can see green shoots of recovery in the club, there has been a lot of mistakes made but ultimately they are surrounding the playing side and not off the pitch.

We are bringing in a new Director of Football, bringing in a new Head of Recruitment, I think we are making plans and sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards, from this perspective other than a rich Arab or American owner ploughing in Manchester City or Newcastle levels of finance, there is only one path we can go down whether we as supporters like it or not.

It is pertinent to note that of the 3 other teams who could finish in the 2 relegation positions now left, all are clubs who have spent more money in the last 5 years than Saints or indeed most of half the clubs above them, money does not guarantee success for all but one club in this division we are about to leave.

When the final whistle blows against Liverpool we need to put this season behind us and move forwards again, not let the past bring us down.

Change what we can and live with what we can't.

This is how I see things, I am not preaching and demanding all follow my lead, it is a personal view as a Saints supporter of over 50 years, we all want success for our club, we all will have difference of opinions as to how it is achieved.

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