AN ELEGANT SOLUTION....

The news that Saints manager, George Burley, has left the club to become the manager of the Scotland national team has been received with mixed reactions both north of the border and among the faithful in Southampton.

My own take on it is on a number of levels. On the football front, I have felt for some time now that the style of play, the team selections, the use of substitutions and the tactics employed by Burley have been somewhat baffling to us spectators and, I suspect, to the players themselves. I also suspect that Burley has - to use the cliche - `taken Saints as far as he can` and that the time has come for someone else to hold the reins.

Given the above, therefore, his appointment by the Scottish Football Association is both timely and elegant for all concerned and, contrary to scurrilous rumours, the club and the SFA were quick to agree compensation without the need for Saints to pay the SFA anything at all.

On a human level, I`m genuinely pleased for George that he has achieved the ultimate accolade in Scottish football management and I wish him well, for despite some criticism I may have levelled at him, he is a decent, honest, experienced professional. I have little doubt that he will settle back into life in his home country, doing the job he clearly relishes.

As for Saints, the search for a new manager is already in hand and numerous candidates have already been suggested. There is no point in me speculating as to who might be suitable, since any opinions I may have will have absolutely no influence on the decisions of the Saints board. However, I suggest it`s time we appointed someone who might be in it for the long haul, as eight managers in eight years is not a recipe for stability or development.....and they are qualities we are sorely in need of right now.

So, how about it, Glenn? - all might just be forgiven. And your old mate John Gorman is already here.

BREAKING NEWS.....hard on the heels of the above suggestion, Glenn Hoddle has this morning been quick to distance himself from a possible return to manage Southampton FC, preferring to concentrate his efforts on developing his new academy in Spain. Gorman is said to be devastated and has now signed up for Spainsh lessons. More on that story as we get it. (PA)