Southampton: Saints chief Semmens “admired” by Manchester United
By Marc Walker
Southampton CEO Martin Semmens is reportedly being lined up as a potential replacement for outgoing Manchester United Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward.
That is according to journalist Alex Crook, who confirms United are looking to make an external appointment and also named Norwich’s Stuart Webber as another potential candidate.
Semmens is often praised by Saints fans as a straight talking spokesman for the club who tells it how it is, and this is a refreshing – probably deliberate – change from previous people who have been at the club.
It remains to be seen whether more links will be made between United and the Saints CEO but he will certainly have a lot to ponder if offered the role.
As discussed on @talkSPORT #MUFC have started their search for Ed Woodward's replacement. Likely to be an external appointment with Premier League experience. Stuart Webber #NCFC and Martin Semmens #SaintsFC both admired. Told it won't be Paul Barber who is committed to #BHAFC
— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) April 23, 2021
Big opportunities for Semmens to create success with Southampton or others
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If these links are to be proven true, Semmens certainly has some good options open to him.
He could stay with Saints where he is appreciated and see how far his leadership, alongside Ralph Hasenhuttl, can take the club in the next few years. Or he could take the risk of walking into immediate scrutiny at Old Trafford.
At both clubs, there is the potential for success. The margins for error are very different though, with Saints fans satisfied with a top-half finish right now but United fans craving league titles after a barren spell.
Equally, it will take some mental strength to walk into a situation where the relationship between the club and the fans needs to be rebuilt and the ownership are not present in the everyday workings in the UK.
Ed Woodward is leaving his post at United at the end of 2021 so things will become clearer as things progress to that point. Semmens will be playing a key role at Saints this summer in their own rebuild and he will want to leave things with a positive look if he is to move on.
Next. A look ahead at Saints' remaining fixtures. dark