Latest news with #WillStill
New York Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Southampton owner Dragan Solak open to investors but ‘selling the club never on my mind'
Southampton owner and chairman Dragan Solak has confirmed he has no plans to sell the club, but says he would welcome future investment from partners. Solak is the lead investor of Sport Republic, the investment firm that bought an 80 per cent stake in Southampton in 2022, and became the club's chairman in January after Henrik Kraft stepped down. Advertisement Southampton were relegated from the Premier League in April with seven games remaining. Manager Russell Martin was sacked in December and his successor, Ivan Juric, was dismissed in April after winning only one of his 14 league games in charge. Will Still, who left Ligue 1 side Lens at the end of the season, has now taken over. After some suggestions in April that Solak may look to move on from Southampton, the 60-year-old told the BBC a sale 'is not part of any plan'. 'I never had any plans of selling the club,' Solak said. 'I might invite some partners to join me when and if we (are promoted) to the Premier League because I think we will need maybe more base to invest and to be even better, but selling the club was never on my mind. 'I was thinking much more about this 10-year project of how to develop the club commercially and financially so it is more robust and less dependent on TV rights. 'My love for Southampton and respect and loyalty are just growing through all this.' Southampton finished the 2024-25 campaign with 12 points, only one above the lowest ever total in a Premier League season, set by Derby County in 2007-08. Solak pointed to the departure of Jason Wilcox, their director of football, as a factor. Wilcox became Manchester United's technical director in April 2024, and is now their director of football, but was not replaced ahead of Southampton's return to the Premier League. 'We suddenly lost a man who started building something and unfortunately we didn't replace him fast enough,' Solak said. 'We went into the challenges of the Premier League without a leading figure in our football department and that was very, very costly.' Johannes Spor was appointed in February as group technical director by Sport Republic, which also owns Turkish side Goztepe and French club Valenciennes. Southampton will discover their Championship fixtures next Thursday when the schedule is released by the English Football League. Still's side have made one signing so far this summer, bringing in Joshua Quarshie from German side Hoffenheim.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
I won't sell, my love for Saints is growing
During Dragan Solak's reign as Southampton owner he has so far witnessed two relegations, one promotion and now five different permanent while the downs might have outweighed the ups, Solak, in a wide-ranging interview, says he has "no plans" to sell the 60-year-old Serbian's company Sport Republic acquired a majority stake of the Saints in early only now, three and a half years on, has he spoken publicly to BBC Sport for the first time in one of the very few media interviews Solak has the clock a year and Southampton were still celebrating after a thrilling Championship play-off final win over Leeds United at Wembley to secure promotion to the Premier the campaign to follow was a damaging one for the club's reputation as they were relegated back to the second tier after a record number of defeats in a season."We have had some really great highs and enjoyable moments but we have also had devastating and sad periods - but I guess that's the sport," Solak told BBC Radio Solent."But the good thing is that my love, respect and loyalty for Southampton is just growing through all of this."Will Still's appointment makes him the fifth permanent head coach of Solak's tenure after Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones, Russell Martin and Ivan season, Saints struggled to adjust from the Championship to England's top tier, not helped by director of football Jason Wilcox leaving for Manchester United even before they had been said Saints had "reluctantly" allowed Wilcox to depart after just six months in the role."I really liked working with Jason during his time here but I understand it, if you get the call from Manchester United, you go," Solak added."We suddenly lost a man who [had] started building something, we didn't replace him fast enough so we went into the challenge of the Premier League without a leading figure in our football department and that was very, very costly." No plans to sell but potential room for investors Solak is the lead investor for Sport Republic - a British sports investment firm founded by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft. They are also involved with, external Turkish side Goztepe, Valenciennes in France and African team FC Mali recent reports suggested Solak could be looking to sell Southampton but he denied these claims."I have never had any plans of selling the club," Solak said. "We have quite a few very exciting projects."I might invite some partners to join me if and when we are promoted to the Premier League, because I think we'll need maybe more [investment]."But selling was never on my mind, I was thinking much more about this 10-year project of how to develop the club commercially and financially so it is more robust and less dependent on TV rights deals." Sacked Saints boss Martin was 'unlucky' In his wide-ranging interview, Solak said previous head coach Russell Martin was "unlucky" to be sacked despite Southampton being rooted to the bottom of the table at the time. The Scot had led Saints into the top flight but was unable to mix it in the Premier League, winning just one game and suffering 13 39, has now been appointed as head coach of Rangers after six months out of Solak thinks he could have still been in charge at St Mary's if not for bad luck."I really believe he was absolutely, fundamentally behind his idea of football and that is not easy in an environment like the Premier League that is so competitive," Solak said."But to give him credit we were quite unlucky, I don't even know how to characterise some of the VAR decisions that we had - but in my opinion VAR took eight points off Russell's team."If he had those eight points more in December I think he would probably manage the team through the whole season."I'm not saying we would stay in the league but we would have [had] a much more competitive run and Russell would definitely still be leading the team."All three clubs that came up last season - Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton - went straight back down and failed to put up much of a fight in the gap between 17th and 18th positions was 13 points and bottom side Saints ultimately finished 26 points adrift of safety. "The truth is that the difference is too big that's for sure," Solak said."The gap has to be narrowed somehow or it will create problems for both the Championship and for the Premier League in the future."I think they should redistribute wealth and I don't think the quality of football would go down, this would allow the Championship to catch up and it will be much more meaningful competition between the teams." Listen and subscribe by clicking here for Southampton FC content on BBC Sounds New head coach Still 'a very smart guy' Former Lens boss Will Still became Saints' latest head coach in May, leaving Ligue 1 for his first taste of management in English became the youngest coach in Europe's top five leagues when appointed by Ligue 1 club Reims, aged 30, in October 2022."I spent some time with him and I have to say he's definitely a very smart guy," Solak said."He went from a first-tier team in France to come to the Championship, he thinks it's a right move for him because I think he believes his place is in British football."For him to be willing to basically take the challenge and to try to prove that it is his place, I think it's great so I'm very positive." Saints under Solak so far It was early in 2022 when Solak and Sport Republic purchased previous owner Gao Jisheng's stake in the south coast club, then managed by were mid-table in the Premier League and despite a disappointing end to that campaign with four straight defeats, Saints finished comfortably safe in 15th position with 40 points. But, the following campaign after taking just 12 points from 14 games, in November, Solak's board opted to part ways with the long-term coach who had been at St Mary's for nearly four Selles' brief caretaker stint, they welcomed Luton boss Nathan Jones on a three-and-a-half-year ended up being the club's shortest-serving manager as he was sacked after just 95 days in charge, losing nine of 14 were almost doomed to relegation to the Championship by then and their fate was ultimately sealed in May with a defeat at home by losing some key players in the early stages of the following season, new boss Martin's team quickly established themselves as a top Championship known for Martin's possession-based football, Saints secured a play-off spot and navigated their way to the final where they edged out Leeds at Wembley. But Saints struggled at the higher level, sacking Martin in December after a 5-0 thrashing by Tottenham left them nine points off came in on an 18-month deal but results failed to improve and he left in April, once Saints' relegation had been confirmed - with Still since signing a three-year-deal as his successor.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Southampton axe Premier League winner just days after appointing new manager Will Still... with TWELVE stars released in total ahead of club's return to the Championship
Southampton have ruthlessly axed 12 players including former Premier League winner Adam Lallana as they prepare for life in the Championship. The Saints were relegated after a miserable campaign which saw them pick up a mere two wins and end the season on 12 points, just one point above Derby's record low tally. Their fate was sealed with seven games to spare in April and they will return to second tier action in August. The South Coast side appointed Will Still as their new manager last month, with the Englishman signing a three-year deal, and they are targeting an immediate return to the Premier League. And they have brutally cut a host of players, including ex-England international Lallana. The 37-year-old, who represented England 34 times and won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, joined Southampton as a 12-year-old in 2000, spending 14 years there during his first spell. He rejoined his boyhood last year and featured in 14 Premier League games last season. Despite his contract expiring he has been linked with a coaching role under new boss Still, with the midfielder acting as assistant boss under interim manager Simon Rusk. Kyle Walker-Peters and Joe Lumley are also set to leave St Mary's when their contracts run out at the end of the month. Youngsters Derrick Abu, Josh Lett, Josh McNamara and Lewis Payne have been released. As have scholar James Martin, Tevin Myers, Alfie Prescott, Ben Sheaf and Harry Upstell have also been moved on. Southampton are hoping to bounce straight back up from the Championship next season in Still's first season in charge. Still, who became the youngest coach in Europe's top five leagues when he joined Ligue 1 side Reims in October 2022, has gained rave reviews for the work he has done during his early managerial career at Lierse and Beerschot in Belgium and latterly at Reims and Lens in France. After signing for the club, he said: 'There is huge potential here and we have a great opportunity to do something special. 'The project that has been laid out to me is very impressive and, all together, I believe we can build a clear identity and a very positive future for the team. 'I'm eager to get to work this summer and start building a close-knit group that can make everyone proud and ultimately get us back to where we belong; in the Premier League.'
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Southampton release 12 players including ex-England star Adam Lallana after Premier League relegation
SOUTHAMPTON have made a ruthless end-of-season cull following their relegation to the Championship. The south-coast side were relegated from the Premier League in April with SEVEN GAMES to spare. 3 3 Dropping back to the second tier of English football will put some serious financial strain on the club. And to cut costs, they have released 12 players - including former Liverpool star and England international Adam Lallana. Youngsters Derrick Abu, Josh Lett, Josh McNamara and Lewis Payne have all been released from their respective contracts at St Mary's. Scholars James Martin, Tevin Myers, Alfie Prescott, Ben Sheaf and Harry Upstell have also been moved on. Lallana, 37, isn't the only big name to depart the Saints this month. Kyle Walker-Peters and Joe Lumley are also set to leave the club following the expiration of their respective contracts. Lallana, however, could still be at St Mary's come the start of the Championship season in August. The midfielder has been linked with a coaching role under new gaffer Will Still. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 Still, 32, inked a three-year deal with Saints last month to succeed Ivan Juric, who left the club after confirmation of their return to the Championship. Still is relishing the challenge on his hands, saying: "There is huge potential here and we have a great opportunity to do something special. Adam Lallana reflects on going back to his boyhood club Southampton "The project that has been laid out to me is very impressive and, all together, I believe we can build a clear identity and a very positive future for the team. "I'm eager to get to work this summer and start building a close-knit group that can make everyone proud and ultimately get us back to where we belong; in the Premier League."
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'New era will get worse before it gets better'
With relegation comes the inevitable player Premier League quality players in our squad are all expected to be playing top-tier football once again. We cannot and should not stand in the Walker-Peters has seen out his contract and confirmed his departure. Aaron Ramsdale, Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling will also garner heaps of interest - the latter reportedly for a big is time for a full new era under incoming manager Will Still may be a painful transition. It will get worse before it gets is lots of news on players moving on, but it has been quiet on the news regarding young German centre-half Joshua Quarshie already a done deal, I would like to see more business done early. We need to have the squad depth capable of dealing with Championship the season we have just endured, the fans deserve one of competitiveness. To be a match for every fixture and not outclassed.I would hope to be in the play-off picture and give time for the new era and signings to settle. A glut of loanees are also returning, hoping to make their way into we keep Ross Stewart fit? Can Adam Armstrong return and find 20-plus goals again? Can we learn from our previous mistakes of poor recruitment?Would it be the worst thing to stay in the Championship for a while?Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external
