Southampton to become laughing stock?

[Soton Seagull]

The Saints fans in the office are in dismay

Saints keen on Woodward


Woodward to meet RFU boss
Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has revealed that England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward could join the club.
Lowe will discuss Woodward's potential involvement at a board meeting at St Mary's on Thursday.

"Sir Clive expressed an interest in getting into football and has looked at our academy and other aspects of the club," Lowe told The Times newspaper.

Woodward is to meet with Rugby Football Union chief Francis Baron on Wednesday, with reports saying he could resign.

Relationships sometimes are not planned - they just grow

Rupert Lowe

The 2003 World Cup-winning coach attended Saints' Premiership match against Chelsea on Saturday alongside Lowe, who admits an association with Woodward could be mutually beneficial.

Lowe added: "If we can learn from him about motivation, improving individuals and becoming world-class, then great. And if we can help him then we are very happy, too.

"Relationships sometimes are not planned - they just grow.

It would be incredibly short-sighted to bring him in on reputation in another sport

From UTS
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"He's running the England rugby team for the next 12 months, as I am aware, but I will be discussing his involvement at the board meeting on Thursday."

Woodward's contract with the RFU runs until after the next World Cup in 2007, but he has a clause in his contract that allows him to work a year's notice.

Reports say Woodward has had a fall out with his bosses and will complete a sensational switch to football.

 

[lincs seagull]

Dont know he could do the bis long ball game at southampton

funny if he gets it

 

[Northstander]

Think he could be good on man management and team building matters, but wouldn't be happy with him getting involved in the actual footballing side!!

 

[Kryten]

 

[Lammy]

That a very shrewd move by Southampton if this happens. Woodward is so much more than a Rugby coach. Hiw team building and motivational skills are very impressive. No different to cricket teams employing baseball coaches to teach them how to throw a ball.

 

[Soton Seagull]

Can you imagine the opposition fans reaction every time Saints kick a ball that goes over?

 

[chips and gravy]

Better tell him that goals are scored under the posts rather than over! Does he know that you can't pick the ball up and run with it?

 

[CHAPPERS]

Ridiculous idea. I really can't see what he would bring to the club apart from an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Icy Gull]

Obviously none of you remember the Chester owner who used America football tactics. They came to Withdean with an offensive captain, a midfield captain and a defensive captain.

We all fell about laughing and taking the piss ..........and lost to them

 

[Gotsmanov]

I find this quite exciting. As Lammy says, his team building and motivational skills cannot be questioned. He played several master strokes for England, notably examining the erstwhile structure of coaching and professional mentality in rugby, and then completely overhauled them, against all tradition. He brought in specific forwards, backs, sight, fitness, dietary and lifestyle coaches, and managed and motivated both these people and his squad, and focussed them and all his efforts on a specific goal.

Clive Woodward has no background in football, other than that he is a dedicated fan who goes week-in week out, and that his son is on the books at Chelsea.

There have been a lot of great players who have gone on to be crap managers, because they simply couldn't handle the pressures of man-management, results, and the commitment to the job. Woodward has proved that he is capable of the above, albeit in a different code. I can only see it as being a positive step for Southampton if they bring him in, as they are no better off without him. At present, they only have Steve Wigley (sp?) as 'head coach'; I can see that Woodward will come in and work alongside Wigley and bring his man-management and organisational skills to the structure of Southampton.

 

[oldham gull]

Obviously none of you remember the Chester owner who used America football tactics. They came to Withdean with an offensive captain, a midfield captain and a defensive captain.

We all fell about laughing and taking the piss ..........and lost to them

To be fair though, we gave them a fairly good spanking in the return fixture with Mr Zamora on loan!

 

[Soton Seagull]

It gets even better. Just like me, he hates Rugby!

Woodward in crisis talks


Woodward watched Chelsea beat Southampton on Saturday
England coach Sir Clive Woodward has arrived at Twickenham to discuss his future with Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Francis Baron.
Woodward has been asked to explain media speculation that he is planning to move into football.

On Tuesday, the RFU insisted Woodward would remain as England rugby coach until the end of his contract in 2007.

"Further to media speculation, I fully intend to honour my contract," Woodward was quoted as saying by the RFU.

Saints keen on Woodward

Woodward has been linked with a move to Premiership football club Southampton and some reports suggest he is ultimately keen to become involved with the England team.

In an interview published in this month's Business Life magazine Woodward suggested his ties to football remain strong.

"My whole background is in football," he said.

I never had that passion for rugby I have for football. I never got into rugby in the same way

Clive Woodward
"I love football and I go to as many games as I possibly can. I never had that passion for rugby I have for football. I never got into rugby in the same way.

"I was forced into playing rugby, because that's the only game the school played. And I hated it. I ran away a couple of times because of football. I didn't mind being at boarding school. I just hated not playing football."

Woodward signed a new contract last summer to lead England at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France but newspaper reports on Tuesday suggested he will initiate a one-year get-out clause.

The RFU said Baron would meet privately with Woodward at Twickenham on Wednesday morning and that a further statement on the matter would be released in the afternoon.




Woodward, who masterminded England's 20-17 victory over hosts Australia in last year's World Cup final, has been appointed coach for next year's British and Irish Lions rugby tour to New Zealand.

 

[Jim D]

Woodward isn't a great motivator - he believes this should come from within the individual. What he is good at is organisation and forward planning. He believes in getting the best out of his players by giving them the best chance to succeed.

He's a good man-manager, but he doesn't suffer fools (or egos) gladly. His current bust-up with the RFU shows that he's prepared to stand his ground. If he does go into Football he might not last long.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

id love it to happen jsut to see what would actually happen. you never know he might be quite good

 

[Icy Gull]

Where's London Irish? I want to read the next episode of his ever so bitter angle on this story

 

[CAFC Matt]

Southampton FC will be a laughing stock if they don't manage to score 4 agaisnt us. Our defence is piss poor. Even Tamworth could thrash us

 

[Safeway]

I think it could be a brilliant move for Southampton. It will raise the profile of the club massively.

 

[chips and gravy]

I know he's missed the boat in terms of transfer dealing until January, but it would be interesting to see who he could attract to the club. Perhaps Martin Johnson might fancy a crack!

 

[Soton Seagull]

Sky Sports reports that Woodward has just resigned. looks like the situation could become reality.

Some very glum faces around the office now.

 

[London Irish]

Where's London Irish? I want to read the next episode of his ever so bitter angle on this story

I do have a slight advantage on you because Weirdo (his approved nickname among LI fans) has actually managed a team I love and support.

I have met him many times, and interviewed him many times.

The guy is an overrated chancer. His interpersonal and man management skills are terrible, not a week goes that he is involved in a bust-up with a player or someone in the RFU management hierachy. He is also very petty and vindictive, ending the England careers of players like Richard Cockerill and Paul Volley who've dared to slightly criticise him personally.

Sit back and watch his awesome organisational skills in England's upcoming internationals.

I have to admit, I'm loving this - you just don't get funnier than this!

I'm absolutely amazed that not every football fan in the country is outraged at someone who knows next to nothing about football is being fast-tracked into a coaching role with ENGLAND Not just Southampton, England will become the laughing stock of world sport. What next, Duncan Fletcher taking over the U21s from Peter Taylor?

But the good thing is that with him gone from rugby, the players will now be able to tell the truth about what happened in the World Cup, when he totally lost it and players like Johnson and Dallaglio had to step in and take effective charge of the team.