What Dragan Solak said when he took over Southampton FC amid Simon Jordan sale claim | OneFootball

FLW take a look at what Dragan Solak proclaimed the Saints would be when he acquired the controlling stake in January 2022.

Southampton FC chairman Dragan Solak may be considering selling the club for around £200 million according to recent reports, FLW take a look at what he proclaimed the Saints would be when he acquired the controlling stake in January 2022.

This comes after former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan claimed on talkSPORT that Southampton is currently available for purchase, sparking widespread speculation about the Serbian businessman's long-term commitment to the recently relegated Premier League club.

The reality of Southampton's trajectory under Solak's ownership has diverged significantly from any initial projections. Perhaps most dramatically, it has been this season, with the Saints becoming the earliest relegated club in the competition's history, bowing out with seven matches still to play.

Dragan Solak's ambitious vision for Southampton FC in 2022

When Dragan Solak's Sport Republic acquired the 80% controlling stake in Southampton from Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng in January 2022 for approximately £100 million, the Serbian media mogul made several bold statements about his intentions for the club.

Solak explicitly declared: "Southampton has so many of the qualities we have been looking for in a major sports organisation. It has a great management team, excellent talent development, talented teams playing attractive football and a dedicated fan base."

More significantly, Solak emphasised the strategic importance of Southampton within his broader investment plans, stating: "We are delighted to be able to complete this acquisition as a first step towards execution of our investment strategy. Southampton will be a cornerstone of the organisation we plan to build." This statement clearly positioned the Saints as a foundational element of Sport Republic's sporting portfolio rather than a short-term investment opportunity.

The takeover was positioned as a long-term project, with Sport Republic chairman Henrik Kraft adding: "We will be an active and engaged owner, but we will not be starting any revolutions. We were attracted to Southampton because it is already a well-run club that follows a clearly defined strategy."

Southampton CEO Martin Semmens remained in his position, with Sport Republic promising to work closely with the existing management team to help the club grow.

The disparity between Solak's initial promise that Southampton would function as a "cornerstone" of Sport Republic's sporting empire and the current sale rumors raises legitimate questions about the organisation's true commitment to the club.

When a Chairman describes an asset as a cornerstone, it typically implies foundational importance and long-term dedication rather than a potential flip for profit after just three years.

Southampton's on-field performance certainly hasn't aligned with what might be expected from an organisation's primary focus. The relegation from the Premier League, especially in such a definitive manner, suggests poor investment, poor strategic decision-making, or both. This raises questions about whether Southampton ever truly received the resources and attention befitting a "cornerstone" property.

If Solak and Sport Republic are indeed entertaining offers around the £200 million mark, it would represent a substantial shift from their initial positioning. This timing would suggest short-term profit prioritisation rather than the long-term project initially promised.