Saints fans were shocked to find a new manager appointed at St Mary's

To say Saints supporters were shocked and stunned this afternoon to hear about the appointment of a new manager at St Mary's would be an understatement.

To say that most were underwelmed by the news that Nigel Pearson was to be the new boss of Saints would be entirely accurate.

Most had assumed that D & G would remain in charge for the forseeable future and whilst many hoped that the defeat at Bristol Rovers would galvanise the board into action, the fear was that it would lead to a panic appointment.

So is Pearson an inspired choice or the cheap option ?

The answer is at this moment in time no one is quite sure, certainly his credentials didnt jump off the paper, he seems to have spent most of his career as a number 2 interspersed with the odd bout of being caretaker and he has had no connection with this football club before, so the main question on everyones lips is just what swayed the board into his appointment.

Although many will be sceptical of his arrival, the first thought is that what is needed at St Mary's is a fresh face, ertainly Pearson is that and he is also known as a disciplinarian and again that is just what is needed at the present time for a squad who appear to have no pride in their work.

It could also be said that In pearson we have a man who is hungry for succes and desperate to make his reputation, he has served a long apprenticeship at several clubs and for some of that time in the premier league, he is also young enough to have forward thinking ideas.

On the down side is that many will see this as a cheap option, there are those that say that if the club had appointed a manager like Dowie or Coleman, bosses that are definately their own men, this would have been a recipe for disaster in that Leon Crouch alledgedly has a reputation for being a dictator and that Lawrie Mcmenemy wanted someone who was willing to come to him for guidance, have they found that in Pearson ? only time will tell.

One thing is for sure though Saints fans have to put their opinions to one side and give the new man their backing, we need to get some wins under our belts and then argue the toss about the rights and wrongs of the situation, although Saints have been in freefall, the truth is that three wins would see us safe and securing the first of these against Plymouth would be an excellent start.

Good luck to Nigel Pearson with the boardroom shennanigans that are going on at the moment he is certainly going to need it.    

Photo: Action Images

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