ENTIRE SQUAD SET TO LEAVE SOUTHAMPTON AND CLUB TO RE-BRAND AS ICE HOCKEY FRANCHISE

TIFN can exclusively reveal that the entirety of the Southampton squad is set to leave the club this summer.

Owner Katharina Liebherr and new chairman Ralph Krueger have spent the last few weeks laying out a new plan for the direction of the club and the decision is believed to have been taken to re-brand Southampton as an ice hockey franchise.

Ice Cold: Liebherr and Krueger

Krueger, known for his work at the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL, believes this new direction to be a prosperous one for the club.

Our sources close to the club have revealed that the entire roster of the current Southampton squad will leave the club this summer with the exception of Jos Hooiveld and Rickie Lambert, whom it is believed could adapt to the new direction of the club.

Whilst nothing official has yet been announced it is understood the board will do so within days.

It is not yet known whether a new name has been chosen but Liebherr and Krueger are rumoured to be leaning toward changing the name of the club to ‘Southampton Sailors’ and renaming the St Mary’s Stadium the ‘Veho Ultradome’.

Whilst there are sure to be some fans of the club who will resent the shift in sport, the majority are expected to be glad of the move away from football toward a sport that the club can truly compete in at the highest level.