For Lance Armstrong Read Nicola Cortese

Lance fought cancer and won and decided that he was going to become the best cyclist in the world no matter what it took. Sadly in his determination he chose to become a lying, conniving cheat.

Nicola came to Southampton bringing Markus Liebherr with him and persuaded him to buy our club. The two were close and Markus bought us on the previso that Nicola took over the reins.

We all know what happened next. Saints became a functioning football club that immediately began to make progress. On and off the pitch we could see improvements through out the club.

Markus sadly died and this is when I feel that Nicola became even more determined to realize the vision that had brought Markus to us.

This determination has seen us reap the benefits of the Liebherr input as we have bought players and climbed through the Leagues reaching our current position as a Premier League club last summer.

Nicola has stated that while he is at the club we will never be relegated. Brave words but words which he is always prepared to back with actions.

Like Armstrong Nicola has the steely grit and determination needed to fulfill the aim of his late friend. The willpower to accept nothing less than success.

He has trodden on some toes and no doubt will do so again, but it is his driving force, and determination to succeed on behalf of Markus, that I feel will bring the rewards promised.

Nigel did a good job for us but it is highly likely that Nicola saw that we were not as effective as perhaps we should be with the money that has been spent.

Nigel has been relieved of his post sadly as we had enjoyed our ride with him. Hopefully the new man will be able to bring the vision a little closer and guide us further up the table to where Nicola intends to see us.

We have to accept that Nicola is a man dedicated to seeing Markus’s hopes fulfilled. He will do whatever he feels necessary to achieve those aims.

That is where Lance Armstrong and Nicola Cortese are similar. The focussed determination to see the thing through. Difference being that Nicola is not a lying conniving cheat. We have to accept any foibles that Nicola has because he is leading us to a future that could well be the best this club has ever seen.



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