Pearson is new Saints boss

Burley's successor is named

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 18th February 2008

Pearson is new Saints boss

Pearson: New Saints boss

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Southampton have confirmed that Nigel Pearson has been appointed the new manager at St Mary's.

The former Newcastle assistant boss takes charge of the Championship side following George Burley's decision to accept the Scotland national team post in January.

John Gorman and Jason Dodd, who have been in caretaker charge of the club since Burley's departure, will stay on as part of Pearson's backroom staff.

Pearson has previously managed Carlisle United and had caretaker spells in charge of West Brom, the England Under 21 side and Newcastle.

The Saints board moved quickly to get their man following a recent run of results which has seen the club lose four of their last five games in all competitions, culminating in Saturday's shock 1-0 defeat to League One side Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup fifth round.

Chairman Leon Crouch is delighted to have got Pearson on board and also paid tribute to the work done by Gorman and Dodd in recent weeks under difficult circumstances.

Detrimental

"We are very grateful to John and Jason for all their hard work and their passion after taking over," Crouch told the club's official website.

"They did everything they could and they must feel as hurt as everyone else at the club by Saturday's result.

"It was clear that the uncertainty of the management situation was having a detrimental effect on the players and so we have decided to bring a new man in.

Impetus

"Pearson is a top quality coach with plenty of experience and good contacts in the game. He is also a disciplinarian with a strong work ethic and I believe he will inject new impetus into our campaign.

"He was a top defender in his time and has a good coaching and managerial pedigree at Stoke, West Brom, Newcastle and with the England U21 squad.

"I feel that he is the right man to steady the ship and get us moving up the table once more. He is a winner and he will instil that mentality in the players."

Comments (9)

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Chris Lawson (Southampton fan) says...

Sadly I have to agree with the other comments.. Do we have the most clueless board in the whole football league? It was ironic that Paul Sturrock was back at St Mary's to witness the debacle - in different circumstances he may have been managing Saints in the premiership.. Personally, I would have carefully considered Ian Dowie, but perhaps like many of the other 'contenders' he was just too experienced, or more likely, too expensive! Let's just hope we can get some serious investors in soon.. I can't bear us to be this position while the down the road the dreaded skates (and 'arry) are lording it up at the right end of the premiership!

Posted 18:46 20th February 2008

Ben Maizey (Southampton fan) says...

Appointment of Pearson came as a bit of a shock considering all the other names that have been in the frame for the job over the past couple of weeks. However the more I think about it, the more I think that he fits the bill. We need someone to put discipline and grit into a side who currently for many of them, only seem to be turning up for a payday.

Posted 13:57 19th February 2008

Ben Isaac (Southampton fan) says...

They have gone for the cheap option - surprise, surprise! What a joke.

Posted 10:01 19th February 2008

Chris Sawyer-lawrence (Southampton fan) says...

Oh dear is all I can say. It seems like Saints are preparing for life in League One with this appointment. He's unproven, even at Championship level, and for Crouch to say he's a winner is simply laughable. He only kept Carlisle up in '99 because of his keeper and at Newcastle he's had no impact and certainly wasn't a winner there. Very, very disappointed. We should have stuck with Gorman and Dodd until the end of the season and then got a bigger name after some much needed investment. I'm livid.

Posted 23:07 18th February 2008

Michael Osman (Southampton fan) says...

My initial reaction is one of apathy and here we go again with another risky appointment by the powers at be at St Marys. He has less managerial experience than John Gorman!!!!!!!!! However as a desperate supporter of Southampton I hope he suprises everyone and drags some decent consistent performances out of this squad to ensure we are safe for this year and build again for next season.

Posted 21:57 18th February 2008

Nick French (Southampton fan) says...

I believe this is another poor managerial appointment in the history of sfc, he has no experience. The board have only given him the job because he was cheap if they had any sense they should have spent all their time getting the finances right and appointing Glen Hoddle!

Posted 20:28 18th February 2008

Mark Ellis (Newcastle United fan) says...

The Saints have a great man there in Pearson. He is an honest, hard working proper football man and he will do very well for them. It was a shame for him to go at Newcastle but he needed to move on and it wouldn't have worked with Keegan. Good luck to him and Southampton.

Posted 19:30 18th February 2008

James Ash (Southampton fan) says...

I cant help but wonder how and why Saints have let Chris Coleman slip through their fingers... Only time will tell if Pearson is good enough to take charge at a club. I am in utter dispair that we've not appointed Coleman... All my hopes had been put into having him at Saints!

Posted 19:21 18th February 2008

Jonathan Philipps (Southampton fan) says...

the appointment of nigal pearson is great news for all saints fans its just a shame its about 3 weeks to late!!!

Posted 18:17 18th February 2008
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