If Southampton had acquired a decent manager a few years back and sold Matthew Le Tissier (pictured) when his leading fan (amongst others) Glenn Hoddle seemed ready to part with the price of a new stand to bring him to Chelsea then the club might be enjoying the sort of stability that Pleat has brought to Wednesday.
As it is, a great deal will depend on new boss Dave Jones, who must cope with the loss of the Channel Islands' least ambitious man for the start of the season and Eyal Berkovic for the whole campaign. Whether Jones's decision to bring Paul Jones and Lee Todd with him from Stockport will be enough to keep the team up again remains to be seen but Egil Ostenstad will certainly have to perform well again if they are to have any prospect of survival.
Manager: Dave Jones.
In: Paul Jones and Lee Todd (both from Stockport) £1.7 million, Kevin Davies (from Chesterfield) £750,000, Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim (from Viking Stavanger) £500,000.
Out: Eyal Berkovic (loan period from Maccabi Haifa ended), Paul Tisdale (to Bristol City) free.
Last Season: 16th. FA Cup: Third round. Coca-Cola Cup: Quarter-finals.
Betting: 250 to 1.
