Saints supporters who are disillusioned with Sport Republic might be happy to hear that according to Simon Jordan on Talksport, a very rich Saudi Arabian is interested in either Southampton or Millwall.
footballleagueworld.co.uk are quoting former Crystal Palace Chairman Simon Jordan as claiming that "Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh is actively exploring the possibility of purchasing an English football club, with Southampton and Millwall emerging as frontrunners."
Initially Turki Al-Sheikh was steered in the direction of Sheffield Wednesday, but he has turned that down as he wishes to invest in a club in the South of England and Saints & Millwall are in the frame
"No it’s not talk, they are interested because they’ve told me.” Simon Jordan revealed on talkSPORT.
"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.”
Our prospective owner already has had two clubs under his belt, Spanish side UD Almería, which he bought in 2019, and he previously held stakes in Egypt’s Pyramids FC.
But here the alarm bells might start ringing, at UD Almeira he is said to have a very hands on approach to player recruitment and management decisions and that doesn't sound good.
Initially it went well and the Spanish side gained promotion to the top tier in 2022, but there 17th finish in La Liga the following season saw them just about avoid relegation.
IN 2023/24 they started the season with a record of 28 games without a win so it was no shock that they were relegated at the end of the season.
This season they have fared a little better in the 2nd tier and currently sit 6th.
However it is said that in the past weeks Saudi investment consortium SMC Group, led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji, are acquiring the club from Turki Al-Sheikh.
He has a personal wealth of somewhere between £2-3 billion depending on what website you believe and that may increase with the sale of Almeira.
As is being reported outside of football, Al-Sheikh is becoming one of the most influential figures in global sport as Saudi Arabia looks to build it's foothold in sport across the World.
As Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, he has been pivotal in bringing major events such as heavyweight boxing bouts, Formula 1 races, and WWE shows to the kingdom and now it seems that he is ready to enter English football.
But is this a good or bad thing, whilst it would bring investment into the club, it would be an either bigger gamble than staying with Sport Republic, who in recent months have been showing that they have learned a lesson or two and are now leaving the footballing side of things to those who know what they are doing.
I am sure that for some it would be a case of anyone but Sport Republic, but as we have found in the past, when someone comes in throwing money around, it does not often end well unless you are Manchester City.