Frank Lampard didn't want to leave Coventry but was willing to join Southampton's big project if they came calling for him.
A few hours later, the dust will settle down on the Arsenal result and the focus will shift towards Will Still's announcement. Honestly, the race for Southampton's managerial hot seat has been dragging on for months, so Will Still's victory feels like one for the Saints fans also.
In between, it's hard to keep a count of the number of tacticians Southampton approached for the role who ended up rejecting them. I know no fan will mind those feelings at the end of the day, but certain fair play gestures always stand out, don't they?
Frank Lampard is one such classy English figure, both on and off the pitch. As a Three Lions midfielder, he was used to drawing praises from football fans and now his reactions to finishing below Will Still will surely win hearts among the St. Mary's faithful.
Lampard's respectful gesture will entice Southampton fans
Now, in case you forgot, Lampard was also considered as an outside favourite to lead Southampton. Though it's not happening, the Premier League icon made sure he neither sounded like a sore loser nor appeared unprofessional to his current employers, Coventry City.
As quoted by the EFL Analysis, journalist Graeme Bailey echoed Lampard's views saying: "He's not pushing for every single job or anything. I think it's just Southampton was a decent opportunity that his people were looking at."
Currently, Southampton have closed their manager-less chapter and even Lampard will be planning to go one better in the Championship. As for the Saints, player sales are the next shining object in store, though, some of the offers are truly wide of the fair price mark.
Still, don't panic Southampton fans, maybe the transfer market also has a Will Still-like shrewd market opportunity ready for the Saints to pounce.