Southampton

Saints can beat West Brom - Safri
Southampton captain Youssef Safri says they can beat West Bromwich Albion to boost their Championship survival hopes. Saints are just one point and one place above the drop zone after a 1-0 defeat to Burnley with three games remaining. Safri told SSB: "It will be tough because they are a good side but I believe 100% that we can win." "After a defeat you are looking to the next game but in this situation it is good to have a long time to get ready." Southampton's fate is in their own hands ahead of a trip to the Hawthorns and a home game against Sheffield United on the final day of the season. Depending on results on the penultimate weekend, the Baggies may need just a point in the Monday night game on 28 April to guarantee promotion to the Premier League.

Southampton call EGM over future
Southampton will hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 16 May to resolve the club's ownership dispute. Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, who control 46% of the shares in parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings (SLH) plc, had requested the EGM. The pair, who are both former Saints chairmen, have called for most of the current board, including football club chairman Leon Crouch, to stand down. Lowe and Wilde could take over if the EGM rules in their favour. A statement from the club said the meeting would start at 1130 BST on 16 May - 12 days after Saints' final Championship game. It said it would be: "For the purposes of considering resolutions to remove each of Leon Adrian Crouch, Charles Leo Hoos, Patrick Murray Trant and Keith St John Wiseman as directors of the company and to appoint each of Andrew Edward Cowen, Rupert James Graham Lowe and Michael Gordon Wilde as directors of the company." Lowe and Wilde had requisitioned the EGM on 1 April - giving the club 21 days to announce a date for the meeting. Lowe, who wants to return as plc chairman, chaired the club for almost a decade until his removal in 2006 - when he was succeded by Wilde, who would take over for a second spell as chairman of the football club.

Crouch admits to investor talks
Southampton chairman Leon Crouch has admitted he is in talks with potential investors in the hope of resolving the club's ownership dispute. An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) has been called for 16 May by former chairmen Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde. The pair, who control 46% of shares in Saints' parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings (SLH) plc, want Crouch to stand down and could take over. But Crouch told SSB: "We are talking to some serious investors." Crouch hopes the club's off-the-field disputes could now be resolved in time to make the EGM irrelevant. "I hope for the sake of the club that they do buy Rupert Lowe's and Michael Wilde's shares out before the EGM so the club can start afresh and get all the politics out, plus get behind the team," added Crouch.

Doubt over Poortvliet appointment
It has emerged that Southampton's new head coach, Jan Poortvliet, has yet to sign a full contract with the club. Chairman Rupert Lowe has confirmed reports that the Holland 1978 World Cup finalist remains technically under contract to Dutch side, Helmond Sport. Poortvliet was unveiled as Nigel Pearson's replacement on Friday. Lowe explained to SSB: "We've just got to tie up the compensation issue. Jan has agreed to pay out of his own pocket." The development comes a fortnight after Rupert Lowe returned to St Mary's as chairman.

Poortvliet cleared for Saints job
Southampton boss Jan Poortvliet has been given the go-ahead to take charge after a Dutch FA (KNVB) ruling. Former club Helmond Sport took their case to an arbitrary board which ruled that the Dutch side are to be paid £60,000 (75,000 euros) in compensation. The 52-year-old agreed a pre-contractual deal with the Saints last month despite still having a year to run on his Helmond contract. Poortvliet took charge of training at his new club on Monday. He said: "Of course I am relieved that everything is done now. "This is my only chance to become a top coach. In Holland I have a certain image, which I will never lose. In England I would like to have a fresh start." Helmond director Mario Captein is worried by the potential repercussions of the decision. "This decision provides a license for all coaches who want to leave their club. All you have to do is start a job somewhere else."

Safri to leave Saints for Qatar
Southampton captain Youssef Safri is set to complete a move to Qatar Sports Club for a fee of about £275,000. The 31-year-old is pictured on the Qatar website signing a document, and wearing their scarf, although Saints say the move is not finalised. Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said: "We have agreed a fee, but the deal is not done. Youssef requested to leave." Safri would be the sixth player to exit St Mary's in the past week, as head coach Jan Poortvliet shapes his squad.

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Lowe gave Saints pre-match talk
Southampton striker David McGoldrick revealed that chairman Rupert Lowe addressed the team in their dressing room before the 1-1 draw with Coventry. McGoldrick, 20, told Radio Solent: "It was good for the players to meet him, I don't think many had met him. "He has come back and it is a young squad. He clarified the position the club is in. "They cannot afford the money at the minute, so the top wage earners had to come out."

Injured Svensson set for return
Southampton defender Michael Svensson is set to return from his recurring knee injury once more. The Swede, 32, has been out since the defeat at Rotherham on 23 September. Head coach Jan Poortvliet told Radio Solent: "I think he is on the way now, he thinks he is ready. Things are looking good." Svensson, who had five operations and did not play between November 2005 and August 2008 because of a knee injury, has made five appearances this season. "When Michael is there I think we have to play him," Poortvleit added. "But he will say to me I am ready, and then we will see. He thinks he is ready." Svensson has been training with the first team for two weeks and looks set to be available for Saturday's home game with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship.

Saganowski keen to stay at Saints
Southampton striker Marek Saganowski says he is fully committed to the club, after making an impact since returning to the Championship strugglers. The Pole recently spent a loan spell with Danish side Aalborg as part of cost-cutting measures at St Mary's. He told Radio Solent: "When I was sent to Denmark I wasn't happy because I felt good at Saints. "I've got a year and a half left on my contract here and I want to play for this club." Saganowski netted the equaliser in Saints' 2-2 draw at Norwich on Tuesday - his second goal in three matches since returning from Denmark. "It was a big disappointment to be left on the bench, because I thought I did well in the previous game. The goal was my answer to the staff for leaving me out," he said. The 30-year-old scored 10 goals in 13 appearances when he first joined Saints in January 2007, on loan from French side Troyes.

Saints boss targets loan striker
Southampton boss Alan Pardew says signing a loan striker remains one of his top priorities. Pardew has brought seven new players to St Mary's since his arrival in July, but feels target man Rickie Lambert needs more support. Pardew told Radio Solent: "We need to free Rickie up a bit. It would be nice to have another new player in that area to do so. "We've been getting plaudits but we need to get more points." Lambert has scored six Saints goals since his move from Bristol Rovers, while youngster Adam Lallana has netted four times. Saints remain bottom of League One, having started the season with a 10-point penalty. Meanwhile Pardew remains frustrated that some of Saints' young talent have not attracted any interest from other clubs. The Saints boss has openly admitted that a number of the club's young professionals are not in his plans, but says they have not commanded enquiries. "It's disappointing that my phone hasn't been ringing. Maybe their efforts in the reserves or on the training ground need to improve," he said. "There are four or five who need to go out, either on loan or permanently. I don't want to see players sitting around earning money but not contributing."

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