If this billionaire takeover news is anything to go by, then Southampton fans better start looking ahead to the Champions League!
Southampton fans are looking forward to next season, even if they're in the Championship. Sure, it might be a lower league than the Premier League, but at least games can be won this time around.
At this point in time, Southampton is stuck in that weird, self-defeating "yo-yo" phase where they're constantly up and down between the Premier League and the Championship. If only the genie could grant three wishes, Southampton fans would wish for Premier League security.
Southampton fans saw billionaire news & Googled "Champions League anthem lyrics"
Well, one of the other two wishes might come true, if rumours spread by Simon Jordan are to be believed. The talkSPORT presenter has claimed that Southampton is one of the clubs considered by Saudi billionaire Turki Alalshikh, who wants to invest in a club in the South of England.
In his own words, Jordan said: “No it’s not talk, they are interested because they’ve told me. I’ve told them, or tried to talk them out of Millwall, because I don’t think it’s a proper football club but that’s a different discussion.
“But it is Millwall, and he likes Southampton. I suggested Sheffield Wednesday to him, he doesn’t want Sheffield Wednesday. He doesn’t want a club in the North. He wants a club in the South, and Millwall and Southampton are the clubs he thinks are interesting to him.”
Well, Southampton fans hope that Simon Jordan manages to convince the billionaire out of Millwall because it could change the entire future for Southampton.
Clubs in England have already seen the ripple effect that can happen from a wealthy owner taking over a club. Just look at Chelsea, one of the first examples, then Man City, then Newcastle United.
Currently, Southampton fans are divided by a lot of things. However, one thing they're not divided by is how poor the hierarchy currently is. Without a shadow of a doubt, one simple fix that fans would apply is to sell the club to a new owner(s).
There is a lot of external noise about footballing integrity and how a club can remain proud after accepting a financial pump. However, those grumbles only come from bitter rival fans, who would accept financial backing in a heartbeat.
If the takeover happens, and it improves Southampton's long-term trajectory, then fans would be all for it. How does the Champions League theme song go again, Saints fans?