Saints appoint Burley as new Head Coach

In a surprise move Southampton have sorted out their management woes following the departure of Harry Redknapp back to Pompey. Southampton's board met yesterday and announce the appointments at the club's christmas party. Former Hearts manager George Burley joins the club as Head Coach with immediate effect; his first match is on Boxing Day against Watford at Vicarage Road. In a not so surprising move Sir Clive Woodward moves from his position as Performance Director to Director of Football. Despite his relative inexperience in football (he has now stopped telling the players to pick the ball up and throw themselves over the touchline), Sir Clive will oversee Saints longterm strategy for success. Sir Clive said: "As head coach he will have complete control of team selection, tactics and coaching issues and I will concentrate on strategic issues which affect the club in less obvious but equally important ways." Chairman Rupert Lowe is said to have threatened to quit after his first two choices, Kevin Blackwell and Glenn Hoddle, were rejected by the board. "I am delighted with the new arrangements that were approved unanimously by the board in line with my recommendation," said Lowe. Not so pleased about the new appointments was caretaker manager Dave Bassett, who had carried the mantle with Dennis Wise since Redknapp's departure. He had made it very clear that he wanted the job, but now leaves the team for, as yet unknown, pastures new. Today he said "No manager was going to get the job unless he agreed to work with Clive Woodward. George will be in and Clive will be doing what he wants and I'll be surplus to requirements. That's the way football is, it's one of those businesses." Dennis Wise will continue at the south coast club as a player. The new management team now have two 'goals'. First to start turning Southamptons draws into wins, and to climb up the Championship into a play-off place. Secondly they need to sort out the future of Theo Walcott. Southampton have come under criticism for their failure to protect and nurture the young star. Yet they cannot avoid the financial lure or 8-12 million pounds - the figure currently being muted that Arsenal are prepared to pay to secure Walcott's services. Burley and Woodward will have their work cut out to convince Walcott to stay when he may have the chance to play with his idol Thierry Henry.