Mark Wotte expects to remain Southampton boss

Mark Wotte expects to keep his job as Southampton's newly-created manager when an expected takeover of the League One club is completed this week.

A Swiss consortium, led by the billionaire Liebherr family, are favourites to complete the £12.5m purchase and take Saints out of administration.

Two other groups, including one from controversial former York chairman John Batchelor, are also keen to succeed where Matthew Le Tissier's Pinnacle Group failed in saving the club from possible oblivion.

Administrator Mark Fry, who took control in March, has warned that unless a deal is agreed soon then he will begin the process of winding-up the 2003 FA Cup finalists.

But Dutchman Wotte, promoted last week from his previous role as coach and given a year's rolling contract, anticipates being in charge whoever takes control at St Mary's.

"I am manager now and it gives me a little more control. I hope to meet the new owners soon and discuss budgets and start to bring in some players.

"The club is moving forward again but there is still so much to sort out."

Fry has had to sell Nathan Dyer, Andrew Surman and David McGoldrick to pay wages and other bills. Wotte thinks he can persuade keeper and West Ham target Kelvin Davis and strikers Jason Euell and Bradley Wright-Phillips to stay.

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