Southampton had reached an agreement with Johannes Spors to become their Director of Football, subject to being granted a work permit, however it seems that this has been turned down by the Home Office.

footballinsider247.com are reporting that Johannes Spors has been denied a work permit by the Home Office.

They say that Saints had reached a full agreement with the German to become their new technical director, but that seems to be scuppered after the Permit was turned down in a hearing on Friday.

Spors was previously CEO of Italian club Genoa, and is now the global sports director of 777 group who have stakes in Melbourne Victory, Genoa, Standard Liege, Red Star and Vasco da Gama.

However whether the deal is dead in the water is unknown, what is not clear is the system of appeal, when managers and players come to the UK it is common for them to be turned down at the first hurdle and then it goes to appeal, what the system is for the non playing side of things is yet to be revealed.

Saints themselves have said nothing so far and that could be a sign that the process of appeal etc is not complete.

All Photos Via Reuters

JoeEgg added 12:44 - Jan 21 Saints themselves have said nothing so far and that could be a sign that the process of appeal etc is not complete. Never ending sage of incompetence and ignorance. It also appears that our likely wonder signing from Rennes is described by those that know him as a spectacular 'flop'! Is there anything more SR can do to make us the laughing stock of professional football?

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Bowlercow added 14:16 - Jan 21 It is important for all Saints supporters to have faith No announcement from SR must mean that an appeal has been launched This guy was at RB Liepzieg with Ralph and Danny Rohl he signed Timo Werner and Upamecano for them He was part of the background team that saw them promoted to the Bundeliga for the first time and finish 3rd in their first season As for signing players who are unknown Why not ? Lambert unknown Success Pele Unknown Sucess Tadic Unknown Sucess Fernandez Unknown Sucess Compare that to the failing known players at Utd

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underweststand added 14:44 - Jan 21 wonder which paragraph the Home Office are using for that decision? Sport Republic are an international organisation operating in three countries, but only one (France) is in the EU so perhaps H.O. are still smarting from the fallout of Brexit fiasco, unless there is information about other activities that might disbar him from approval. A closer look at some of the foreign personnel employed by Prem. clubs might be opening up a can of worms unless the F.A / Premier League can come to our defence.

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IanRC added 19:17 - Jan 21 Absolute scandal, does anyone seriously believe if it was Liverpool or United it would be turned down, whole system appears deeply corrupt, bit like the PL.
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