Football can be a cruel game – just ask the Southampton supporters who watched their team finish eighth in the Premier League table last season. Their reward? Losing their manager and likely at least three or four key performers over the summer as bigger clubs swoop in. It is another reminder of just how difficult it is for an emerging club to close the gap on the powerhouses above.

At the start of 2014, the future looked bright and there was optimism that Southampton could hold off the vultures during the summer transfer market. They were playing some of the most enterprising football in the league and reaping the rewards from their superb youth academy, which had nurtured several current squad members as well as the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in previous years. 

But those hopes are now crumbling in every direction.

First, they lost their manager. Mauricio Pochettino was an instant hit at St Mary’s after replacing the popular Nigel Adkins – but he could not resist the lure of taking the Tottenham job. It is hard to begrudge the Argentine, who will be armed with a larger transfer kitty and the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the top teams in the country in pursuit of Champions League football. But it has set the tone for what lies ahead. His pressing style of play and his emphasis on attractive football will be missed.

While the Pochettino factor was pivotal in Southampton’s continued rise last season, the young core of the squad has been the driving force behind the club’s resurgence after dropping into League One. They dragged Saints back into the top flight and developed a deep bond with the club and the supporters. Sadly, this group is unlikely to have the chance to continue their development together.


Dramatic changes are coming. Striker Rickie Lambert, who is heading to Brazil with England, set the ball rolling with a dream move to Liverpool and it is surely just a matter of time before the other dominoes fall. Captain Adam Lallana, whose fine displays have rightly earned him a place in England’s squad for the World Cup this month, is expected to join Liverpool or Tottenham for close to £30m while Luke Shaw, Lallana’s England team-mate and fellow graduate from the Southampton academy, looks set to be on his way to Manchester United as the first piece of their summer overhaul.

Those deals will net Southampton close to £60m, easing concerns over mounting debts. But it is easy to sympathise with enthusiastic Saints supporters who committed to season tickets for next season with the expectation that the new era on the South Coast was only just beginning.

Nonetheless, Saints are publicly refusing to acknowledge the exodus that seems to be looming on the horizon. With the need to lure a new manager to St. Mary’s, it makes sense that there is reluctance to complete deals that send key players to bigger clubs.

“We are staying true to our plan and vision and, as a result, we have no need to accept any offers”, a Saints statement read. "We are deep in the process of appointing a new manager who will continue to move our club forward. It remains our preference not to partake in any transfers until the new manager is in place.”

That new manager could well be Dutchman Ronald Koeman, who has emerged as the strong frontrunner and has a proven track record with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. It remains to be seen what type of squad Koeman would have at his disposal if he moves into the hotseat.

And it could get worse. The deals for Lambert, Lallana and Shaw may merely be the first instalment of Southampton’s summer transfer business. Outstanding centre-back Dejan Lovren is on the radar of multiple clubs, including Tottenham and Liverpool, while rumours have also linked Nathaniel Clyne, Jay Rodriguez, Morgan Schneiderlin and James Ward-Prowse with moves away from St. Mary’s. Even if only half the rumours have merit, Saints would face a major rebuilding project.

Pochettino had an upbeat message for Saints fans after clinching his switch to Tottenham. But it is unlikely to heal the wounds.

“We have been on an incredible journey and enjoyed some great experiences”, he said. “I will always have fond memories of my time at St. Mary's and wish everybody the very best for the future. I hope the team can continue to prosper.”

And so, Southampton’s bright future has dimmed dramatically over the past few months. While Lallana and Shaw, in particular, are ready to prosper on the biggest stages, there should also be a sense of sadness that this talented Saints core is set to be split up without a lengthy run together.