Since being relegated to the English Championship as the last player in the Premier League in the 2004-05 season, Southampton's best result was to participate in the play-offs as sixth in the English Championship, and then were eliminated in the first round of the play-offs...
But compared with now, Southampton, nicknamed the Saints, had not lost their divine favor at that time.
Last season, they finished 20th in the English Championship and barely managed to avoid relegation (of the 24 teams in the English Championship, the bottom three were relegated).
This season, it has been up and down in the relegation zone. It entered the relegation zone when winter came. Originally, with Southampton's strength, as long as it played well, it was not a big problem to avoid relegation in the English Championship. However, in April, Southampton
The financial collapse of PLC Group, the parent company behind Dayton, and the resignation of chairman Lubo Luwei - everyone knows the chain reaction this situation will bring, and this is also the case. The team completely collapsed in the last period of the season, and finally ended up with
The top 23 teams in the English Championship were relegated to League One, and at the same time, they will start the new season with minus ten points...
The team went bankrupt, was in debt, started the game with a negative score, and everything happened to Southampton. For Southamptonians, it was like the Titanic sank from Southampton port and drowned Leonardo DiCaprio.
The worst news.
And what happened next was terrible.
The parent company went bankrupt, and of course Luwei couldn't do anything. He could only find a way to find a home for Southampton with executive Wilde and club director Kuwin.
As a club with a long history and excellent youth training, even if it has fallen to League One, it should not be difficult to find a home.
However, this is also difficult.
The reason is very simple. Although Southampton has its own stadium, training base and sufficient assets, when calculated as a whole, Southampton is still close to negative equity.
Because they had already incurred a huge amount of debt when they built their new home stadium, St. Mary's Stadium, this is also the key to Southampton's difficulty in making ends meet. They still have a debt of almost 50 million pounds, and they have to take over Southampton.
After a while, this debt must be paid.
If you were in the Premier League, it would not be difficult to earn this money, but Southampton is already in League One. Compared with the Premier League, the income from the lower three professional leagues is just child's play.
It will take at least two years to go from League One to the Championship and then to the Premier League. With so much investment, it takes too long to make a profit, and it is not the investment that capital expects.
So Southampton's next home... actually froze like this.
There is good news in the middle. Summit Sports was once very close to owning the ownership of Southampton. Because of the legendary Southampton superstar Matthew Le Tissier working in this sports company, Southampton fans are very interested in this company.
I have a good feeling. However, as the negotiations progressed, British reporters gradually uncovered some things. For example, Summit Sports’ negotiators were extremely negative, and Summit Sports’ own finances were not transparent. If it were sold to a company with financial difficulties,
, Southampton is completely finished.
After the negotiations with Summit Group collapsed, Southampton fans breathed a sigh of relief but continued to worry about the future of the club...
It lasts until July comes.
Almost without warning, Southampton's local sports media announced a piece of news at the same time!
Southampton changes ownership!
The new owner of the Saints is not a consortium or a wealthy family, but a company called "St. Mary's Football Group" that fully acquired the ownership of Southampton from the trusteeship at a cost of 13 million pounds.
When he obtained the ownership of Southampton, he also shouldered a heavy debt of 50 million pounds...
This company belongs to a Chinese named Ji Ya and was temporarily established just a few days ago.
As soon as the news broke, Southampton fans immediately exploded!
What the hell is this!
You know, Southampton fans are very heroic. The former boss Lou Wei was often scolded by the fans because he paid too much attention to management. The chairman who attended the club meeting not long ago was blocked at the door of the club by the fans.
What a scolding!
Summit Sports' previous attempt to acquire Southampton was thwarted by the investigation of these heroic fans who revealed that their background was abnormal.
Even if the most badass man in Southampton's history - Mathieu Le Tissier is also working at Summit Sports, it won't bias them in any way.
But now, the club has been quietly sold to a newly established company and a completely unknown owner!
Still a Chinese!
So the Southampton fans went crazy. Although the contract had been signed and the club had officially changed ownership, they still had to prove their strength! They were going to block the training ground! Block the club! Block St. Mary's Stadium!
However, at this time, those within the Southampton club, those who were highly respected and trusted and respected by the fans, began to speak out one after another.
Mark Watt, Southampton's new coach and former Southampton youth training director: "Kiya? I know him, I'm very familiar with him. He's a loyal and enthusiastic young man. If Southampton is under his
It will definitely look good in your hands."
If Southampton fans don’t care too much about Watt who has left the club, then the Southampton youth team coach who once trained top stars such as Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale
, the words of George Prost, the current Southampton youth training director, are very weighty.
"I have known Kiya for more than ten years. He has always been very heartbroken about Southampton's situation after being relegated, and he has said more than once that if Southampton is in his hands, it will definitely become more brilliant... maybe
This doesn’t mean anything, but it at least proves that he is not a person who manages the club for money, not to mention that he is also an excellent coach and has obtained the UEFA POR-level coaching certificate at a young age.”
Prost's words caused an uproar among Southampton fans. Many people began to believe Prost's words. After all, Prost has played loyally for Southampton since his player days and has worked for the club for more than thirty years.
The prestige is unmatched!
Under such circumstances, the support of others began to appear very powerful.
The club's new director Mark Fry: "St Mary's Football Company's finances are very good, otherwise I would not sign the transfer contract."
Finance Director Dave Jones: "I have carefully checked their transactions and they are completely legal."
Faced with this situation, Southampton fans are a little confused...
Will this guy named Noriya really become the savior of the saints?
