Coca-Cola Divisions: Southampton

Kevin Davies has completed his transfer to Bolton after passing a medical.

The 26-year-old striker, released by Southampton at the end of last season, impressed Trotters boss Sam Allardyce during a recent trial spell at the Reebok Stadium and has signed a one-year deal.

Kevin Phillips took a 50% pay cut to clinch his �3.25million return to Southampton, the club who rejected him as an 18-year-old right-back because they thought he was too small.

The former England striker, 30, left relegated Sunderland for an immediate return to the Barclaycard Premiership with Gordon Strachan's side.

Phillips has signed a four-year deal but had his wages halved, although he has pocketed an unspecified slice of his transfer fee.

The Black Cats, who have actually only received �2million of the �3.25million fee, said the remaining �1.25million was taken up by "related selling costs and contractual obligations".

Phillips has taken a cut - although that is not understood to be in the form of a loyalty bonus - and his former club Watford have also benefited from a sell-on clause. Another unknown party has also profited.

Southampton are pleased with the progress of Marian Pahars, who completed 80 minutes of reserve-team football in only his second match in nine months.

The Latvia striker has been sidelined after a number of operations on an ankle injury but he is close to being ready for first-team action after starting the 3-3 draw with Chelsea reserves.

Pahars earned a penalty and reserve team boss Steve Wigley believes it will not be long before he is available for Gordon Strachan.

But will Gordon Strachan choose Pahars
with Kevin Phillips now a saints player?

Originally posted by drunk
But will Gordon Strachan choose Pahars
with Kevin Phillips now a saints player?

I just dont know,I cant see him leaving Phillips out maybe he will play Pahars in a wide role or in a position like Man U do with scholes behind the front 2??

James Beattie is convinced he can become an England regular by staying at unfashionable Southampton.

Saints fans always believed Matt Le Tissier never gained the international recognition he deserved because he refused to leave the south coast club, while Wayne Bridge opted to leave for Chelsea this summer in an effort to further his England claims.

Joe Cole has also become a regular member of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad this season after ditching West Ham for the bright lights of Stamford Bridge.

But while Beattie understands the reasons why those moves were made, the powerful striker believes his position in England's squad to face Macedonia at the weekend is proof the breakthrough can be achieved and Saints' place in this season's UEFA Cup can only enhance his claims.

"I am a Southampton player and I am in the squad, that proves it can be done," he said.

Southampton have announced losses of �500,000 despite their FA Cup final appearance last season and highest ever Premier League finish.

The annual accounts show the club had an income of �8.7million for the financial year ending May 31.

But transfer fees and wages - plus �2.2million paid in interest - means that Saints made a loss of around half a million overall.

Boss Gordon Strachan spent over �9million on new recruits, including Antti Niemi, Michael Svensson, David Prutton and Danny Higginbotham. And a wages system which heavily rewards success meant bonus payments were high.

However, good news for chairman Rupert Lowe came with a hike in annual turnover, which has grown to by almost �10million from the previous year to �48.8million.

Southampton ended their Barclaycard Premiership goal drought in style to claim a thrilling 3-2 victory over Charlton.

Gordon Strachan's men suffered a four-match famine before scoring twice in the Carling Cup on Tuesday to see off south-coast rivals Portsmouth.

And the shooting boots were on again as they threw away a two-goal lead before a late rally in which Brett Ormerod bagged the winner four minutes from time.

Southampton ended their Barclaycard Premiership goal drought in style to claim a thrilling 3-2 victory over Charlton.

Gordon Strachan's men suffered a four-match famine before scoring twice in the Carling Cup on Tuesday to see off south-coast rivals Portsmouth.

And the shooting boots were on again as they threw away a two-goal lead before a late rally in which Brett Ormerod bagged the winner four minutes from time.

Southampton, with a 2-1 success, have joined Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in winning a league game at Anfield this season.

And Houllier, even put under pressure by his own chairman David Moores in his shareholders' report this week, accepted the bleakness of a situation that sees Liverpool plunged back into ninth spot.

Great win for Southampton!!

For all you Saints fans boss Gordon Strachan, who has steered Southampton from relegation candidates into UEFA Cup contenders, will leave the club this summer for medical and other personal reasons.

Well Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe made 'several' attempts to persuade boss Gordon Strachan to stay on.I'm pretty shocked that he is leaving,he has done a great job at Southampton.I wonder who will take over.

well if things wasn't bad enough with the news that strachan is going to leave they got beat by birmingham today after being 1-0 up.

Yeah there form is not that good at the moment and i'm sure with the decision of Strachan to quit has unsettled the side a bit.

Fabrice Fernandes has signed a new contract to keep him at Southampton until the end of the 2005-06 season.
The Frenchman's current deal was due to expire at the end of the campaign. Fernandes told the club's website: "I'm very happy to have signed and to stay for another two-and-a-half years. I like the shirt, the club and the fans."

Good win for the saints today,they sent Leeds to the bottom of the table.!

Southampton have emerged as the mystery club in for Celtic's Stephen Crainey - with The Saints announcing the signing of the full back on Friday evening.
Crainey was believed to have been targeted by West Ham or Bolton - but it is Southampton that have landed the talented defender.

More unrest at the Saints as Kevin Phillips is urging Southampton to install a successor to Gordon Strachan as soon as possible after his side's Ewood Park draw with Blackburn.Phillips believes Saints need to begin building for the future, with caretaker boss Steve Wigley insisting he is not interested in taking the job full time.

Chairman Rupert Lowe appears in no great rush to make an appointment which is widely expected to be former boss Glenn Hoddle, despite opposition from some fans.

Doesn't look like Hoddle as rumour has it that Paul Sturrock is on the verge of becoming Southampton's new manager.Sturrock signed a new five-year contract at Plymouth in the summer,stretching until summer 2008,but crucially insisted on the clause allowing him to talk to a Premiership club.It seems that Sturrock has agreed personal terms with Saints chairman Rupert Lowe.The two clubs will now have to thrash out a compensation package for the remainder of his contract if he is to move.

The rumour was right as Paul Sturrock took charge of Southampton and warned his players to shape up or face the unusual tactics which made him one of the country's hottest managerial properties.The Scot, 47, was appointed successor to Gordon Strachan at St Mary's this afternoon after Southampton struck a compensation deal with Plymouth, who Sturrock transformed into Second Division promotion hopefuls.