Southampton

Davis makes apology for gesture
Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis has apologised after gesturing to the crowd during last Saturday's 5-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. Some fans from both clubs had complained following the incident. Davis told Southampton's website: "I apologise to both sets of supporters for my reaction, and in particular to anyone offended by it. "I was angry and frustrated at being 5-0 down, but it was unprofessional of me to react like that."

Crewe sign Saints striker on loan
Crewe have eased their striker shortage by signing powerful Southampton hitman Cedric Baseya on a one-month loan. Baseya, 19, has joined the Railwaymen to plug the gap left by injuries to Lee Barnard and Nicky Maynard, plus Simon Church's international call-up. Baseya has yet to play a senior game for the Saints since signing from French club Bretigny two years ago. The DR Congo U-20 international has been a regular at reserve level and added to his goal tally on Tuesday.

Lowe opposes Southampton takeover
Former Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe will not support the proposed takeover of the club by hedge fund Sisu Capital. The proposed deal, revealed in October, would see Sisu take a majority stake in the Championship club's parent company, Southampton Leisure Holdings plc. Lowe said he had made suggestions to Sisu about the structure of the deal. But he told SSB: "They are adamant that they will not change their outline, so for now they will not receive our support." Sisu's proposed offer would be executed by means of a placing of new shares at 40p per share - 20% below its current share price - but it needs the backing of 75% of shareholders. Lowe stood down as chairman in June 2006, but remains a major shareholder in the club. He has met with Michael Wilde and Leon Crouch, who are also former chairmen of the football club and major shareholders in Southampton Leisure Holdings, to discuss their position. The trio are yet to meet representatives of London-based Sisu, but Lowe said there was "no point in meeting" at this stage. The proposal is unlikely to attract the necessary 75% backing if Lowe, Wilde and Crouch do not support it. A club spokesman said they had procured an offer of investment, and it was up to the shareholders whether they wanted to accept that offer, while Sisu declined to comment. Lowe, Wilde and Crouch announced in late October that they would not back the deal as it stood, and were seeking answers to 10 questions about Sisu's proposals. At the beginning of November, the club issued a statement warning that players would have to be sold in January "in the absence of significant new investment".

Torquay sign Southampton keeper
Southampton goalkeeper Michael Poke has joined Blue Square Premier promotion challengers Torquay on a month's loan. "Michael comes highly recommended and with a good pedigree. I'm sure he'll make a big impact with us," boss Paul Buckle told Torquay's website. Poke, 22, is yet to make a senior appearance for the Saints but played while on loan with Woking last season. He is not eligible to face Burton on Monday but can play against Newport County in the FA Trophy on Saturday. Poke has also had loan spells with Oldham and Northampton.

Davies leaves Boro to join Saints
Southampton have completed the signing of defender Andrew Davies from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee. Davies, 23, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract following a successful spell on loan with the Saints. "Andrew is a very talented player and I am delighted he has signed for us," Southampton manager George Burley told the Championship club's website. "He is young and has a bright future ahead of him. There is now doubt in my mind that he is Premiership quality." Davies has also had spells on loan at QPR and Derby.

Saints loanee receives Irish call
Southampton's on-loan defender Stephen O'Halloran could face his team-mate Andrew Surman in next month's Under-21 international at St Mary's Stadium. O'Halloran - who signed for Saints on loan from Aston Villa - has been called up for the Republic of Ireland's clash with England on 5 February. Midfielder Surman seems certain to earn an England place for the game. O'Halloran said: "It's great how the timing has worked out, and I'm really looking forward to the game." The Irish team will be looking for revenge after they were beaten 3-0 by England in Cork last year. O'Halloran, who has won two senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, is spending an initial one-month loan with the Saints. The 20-year-old also spent a loan spell with League Two side Wycombe Wanderers last season.

Gorman and Dodd take Saints roles
Chief scout John Gorman has been appointed joint caretaker manager of Southampton - yet insists he is not in the running to get the job permanently. On the day boss George Burley left to become Scotland's new manager, Gorman was asked to take over in caretaker charge with coach Jason Dodd. But Gorman said: "I've looked at the names of the contenders and I'm content to be in an assisting role. "The coaching staff are just working hard to get through this period." Former England number two Gorman is in his second spell on the payroll with Saints, having previously worked as Glenn Hoddle's assistant manager. He followed Hoddle to their old club Tottenham Hotspur in March 2001. The fomer Spurs defender, who has previously held caretaker roles with West Bromwich Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Gillingham, has also had three spells in sole charge of clubs - at Swindon, Wycombe and most recently Northampton Town. Following the end of his six months in charge at Sixfields in December 2006, he linked up with Burley to join his backroom staff as chief scout at St Mary's last May. Former Saints defender Dodd returned to the club as first-team coach two months later. But 58-year-old Scot Gorman insists that his thinking has always been short term. "I just came to help George Burley and the club and take it from there," he said. Asked whether he thought his old friend Hoddle might come back to Southampton, almost seven years years on from walking out on the club, Gorman remained non-committal. Le Tissier is not a contender to take over as boss at St Mary's Hoddle has topped a fans' website poll this week, but Gorman said: "He's been working hard on his new soccer academy. "And I think he's turned down about eight jobs because of it so I'd be surprised if he took the job. "But it's up to Southampton to approach whoever they want. Then it's up to Glenn or whoever to consider it." Another former Saints boss, Dave Jones, is also reportedly a contender. But one man who has absolutely ruled himself out of contention is Saints legend Matthew Le Tissier. He told BBC Radio Solent he has not got the necessary coaching badges, even if he was interested in the post.

Adams stakes claim for Saints job
Former Southampton midfielder Micky Adams says he wants to be the club's next manager, following George Burley's departure from St Mary's last week. The 46-year-old told SSB: "Of course I want it. "It's not about sentiment, it's about 'can I do the job?'. I think if you look at my record, I can do the job." He has managed six League clubs, most recently Coventry before being sacked in January 2007, and won promotion with Fulham, Brighton and Leicester. Adams also previously managed Swansea and Brentford, but has been out of work since the start of the year when he left his post as Colchester United's assistant manager. He was a popular player in his time on the south coast, making over 150 appearances between 1989 and 1994. "The Saints squad is as good as any in the league," Adams said. "I haven't seen them on a regular basis - perhaps mid-table in the Championship is doing them a disservice." "I don't think sentiment plays a part in choosing a manager of a football club, but I do know the area and the type of football the fans want. "I'm delighted to be linked with it. It's a club I know well and have a lot of love for." Asked if he would be applying for the role, Adams added: "Whether they want people to apply or not I don't know, but I have an agent and we'll do it in the correct manner." First-team coach Jason Dodd and chief scout John Gorman were placed in temporary charge last week, following Burley's appointment as the new manager of Scotland. Over the weekend, ex-Saints boss Glenn Hoddle ruled himself out, telling the BBC that he would be concentrating on his soccer academy. In an interview elsewhere, former Fulham boss Chris Coleman appeared to rule himself out, saying the job was not for him.

Southampton in new takeover talks
Southampton are in preliminary talks with "certain third parties" over new investment or a possible takeover. The move was revealed in a statement to the Stock Exchange by parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings plc. But the statement warned: "There is no certainty that any such offer or investment will be made and discussions are at an early stage." In the autumn, hedge fund Sisu Capital made a bid to buy Saints but eventually took over Coventry City instead. The Sisu offer was backed by the club's board of directors, but it failed to win support from major Southampton Leisure Holdings (SLH) shareholders Rupert Lowe, Michael Wilde and Leon Crouch - all former chairmen of the club. After Sisu completed its purchase of Saints' Championship rivals Coventry, three SLH board members - including plc chairman Ken Dulieu - resigned. Crouch has since returned as chairman of the football club's board. Southampton are without a manager following George Burley's appointment as Scotland boss on 24 January, with John Gorman and Jason Dodd now in temporary charge. Meanwhile, financial pressures were a factor as Grzegorsz Rasiak and Rudi Skacel were allowed to leave St Mary's on loan on the final day of the January transfer window.

Saints manager search put on hold
Southampton have confirmed caretaker bosses John Gorman and Jason Dodd will remain in charge at the club for the "foreseeable future". The duo took over after George Burley left to become Scotland boss and Saints director Lawrie McMenemy is happy. He said: "The ship is nice and steady, management is about doing the best with what's available and that's what these two lads are doing." The pair have started with one victory, a draw and a defeat in three matches. McMenemy added: "There's a passion there, when a new manager arrives there's always a reaction." Talking ahead of the visit of QPR on Saturday, Dodd told BBC Radio Solent: "They've seen that we've got the best out of the players, it's fantastic for me and John but now the hard work really begins." The Championship club revealed on Monday that they are in preliminary discussions with "certain third parties" over new investment or a possible takeover. With the side's encouraging recent performances, this potential investment has become the priority for Saints chairman Leon Crouch. "We always said we would take our time to make sure we appoint the right person and that is what we are doing," said Crouch. "There is no rush because we are very happy with what Jason and John are doing. "In the meantime we will continue our hunt for new investment."

Southampton sign Pearce on loan
Southampton have signed Fulham defender Ian Pearce on a 30-day loan deal. The 33-year-old centre back is new Saints boss Nigel Pearson's first addition to his squad. Pearson told Southampton's website: "I am delighted to have brought Ian in. He is an experienced head, calm, confident and a quality player." Pearce has been at Fulham since 2004 but has made only two appearances this season, with the last one coming in August last year.

Pearson disciplines Saints stars
Southampton boss Nigel Pearson has disciplined two of his players after a reported nightclub incident last month. Footage of Nathan Dyer and Bradley Wright-Phillips reportedly taken from a Portsmouth nightspot's CCTV cameras emerged in a newspaper at the weekend. Allegations of theft have also been made, and the club are now awaiting details of a police inquiry. Saints manager Pearson said: "The late-night socialising has been strongly dealt with internally." In a statement on the club's official website, he continued: "As far as the other allegations are concerned, the club views these seriously but will await full details and will then decide on what action to take." The alleged incidents took place in the early hours of Thursday February 28th at the Bar Bluu club in Portsmouth. Wright-Phillips was dropped for Saints' home game with Ipswich the following Saturday, while Dyer is currently sidelined with an ankle injury.

Pericard set to join Southampton
Southampton are set to sign Vincent Pericard from Stoke City on loan until the end of the season. The forward, who has been loaned to Sheffield United and Plymouth Argyle, joined the Potters in 2006, becoming Tony Pulis' first signing. But Pericard has just made five appearances this season - his last coming against Preston on 19 January. The 25-year-old signed for Premier League side Portsmouth from Italian giants Juventus.

Davies ruled out for Southampton
Southampton captain Andrew Davies has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a facial injury. The former Middlesbrough defender has undergone an operation on his fractured cheekbone which will keep him on the sidelines for six weeks. "It's a huge disappointment for him, for us and for the fans," said Southampton manager Nigel Pearson. The Saints are currently just two points above the Championship's relegation zone. Pearson added: "Andrew had a depressed fracture by his eye socket, and although I'm not a medical man, i believe there was a possibility of sight loss if he played and got hurt. That's a risk we're certainly not prepared to take."

Lundekvam set to hang up boots
Southampton club captain Claus Lundekvam is to retire from professional football because of a long-standing ankle injury. The 35-year-old had hoped to return to training this month after surgery but suffered a recurrence of his problem. He told SSB: "This is it for me, it's game over. It's very sad, but it hasn't really sunk in yet." Lundekvam has made over 400 appearances for Saints since joining from Brann Bergen in 1996 for £350,000. "I've prepared myself for this situation slightly over the last few weeks after a snapped the tendon in my ankle," he said. "But it's very difficult to come to terms with. Maybe once the season is finished and the players have gone I'll find it hard to deal with."

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