Under the new regime at Southampton Football Club they are recognising the fact that we are more than just a name on a fixture list but we are a community, so it is great to hear that Ralph Krueger will be joining Franny.

Under Nicola Cortese Francis Benali was ostracised, Im sorry to go on about this, but when club legend's like Francis Benali and Matt Le Tissier are treated by a club as badly as they were then the person running that club fundamentally does not understand what the club is about and certainly has no empathy with its fanbase.

With Katharina Liebherr taking a bigger interest in the club and the proper management put into place it is now being recognised that if a football club is to prosper then it needs everyone around it to be working together and kicking in the same direction, that means those running it, the supporters, players both current and ex, the media, potential sponsors, it is a big roundabout and to keep it spinning it needs everyone pushing.

Sadly for a while we did not have that, now it seems we do and although it will take a while to repair some areas of trust, it is great to see the club supporting Francis Benali in his run and that cannot be endorsed more than by Ralph Krueger announcing that he would be "honoured" to accompany Franny on the final few miles of the journey and into St Mary's.

For Franny it will be emotional, not just because of the welcome he will receive, but for the fact he is in the stadium at all after being banned by Cortese for a number of years and having his character tainted by insinuations backed up by absolutely no fact.

So lets give him a big welcome back to St Mary's and lets show him how much a part of this City and his football club by putting in bumper amounts of sponsorship.

Find out more about the run itself as well as how to donate at

Benali's Big Run

To make a text donation from your mobile phone please text “BIGR55 followed by the amount you would like to donate EG £1, £3, £5, £10” To text number 70070. For example if you wanted to donate £10. Text BIGR55 £10 to 70070

Photo: Action Images

ericofarabia added 17:55 - Sep 10 What an amazing effort - deserves far more coverage and donations in the media.
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SaintNick added 18:49 - Sep 10 if everyone can share this story on facebook and tweet it etc that will get it out to more and more people
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SaintGeorge added 19:42 - Sep 10 Not entirely sure I like Ralph basking in Franny's limelight. Hope he does the right thing and lets the main man run into the stadium alone. Don't want him to look like Blatter shaking the world cup over his head in front of the German team in the summer, and likewise Spain 4 years ago....
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landsdownsaint added 21:58 - Sep 10 What he's doing is incredible !! I hope every saints fan puts their hand in their pocket on Saturday if they ain't done it already .
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SaintNick added 22:15 - Sep 10 Im sure ralph's intentions are honourable, he seems to want to give the run the biggest publicity and let every saints fan know the club is right behind it
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ThereIn76 added 23:10 - Sep 10 Agree Nick. This is an important gesture fromKruger, not just showing support for Franny's efforts but also making clear that Franny is part of the club. I don't believe for a moment that Kruger is trying to steal Franny's thunder. He has proven a lot of people wrong by appointing RoKo and then backing him with the transfer funds, reinstating the stipes and now showing solidarity with a true Saints legend.

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