Roger Moore scores: Taking Le Tiss

“Sometimes when we take a big risk on a young man, not only does he meet our expectations, frequently he delivers more than we imagined possible.”

It’s hard to imagine when Sir John Harvey Jones wrote these words he was thinking about football management. But the kernel of the concept seems equally valid in the sporting arena as it would in any business.

So here, with the backing of a favourite industrialist, is my argument for the appointment of a new and untried management team at Southampton FC.

To my mind, the output from a job has a lot to do with the quality of the input. You know what I mean. You’re up against a deadline for a customer you have the highest respect and admiration for, you dig deep into your reserves and pull out all the stops.

Conversely, you’re working at something you don’t really enjoy for a cause you couldn’t care less about and, well, we need only look at the latest incumbent of the managerial chair here for our answer.

In all my working life, I find it’s the people who care that ultimately do the best job. And even when they don’t achieve the best possible outcome, their genuine endeavour can have the most uplifting affect on those around them who raise their own game accordingly.

Now apply this view to Matthew Le Tissier and Francis Benali. When these two topped fans’ polls as replacements for he who must not be named, it was all too easy to dismiss the mood and motivation as purely sentimental.

But think about this for a moment. What’s to say they wouldn’t do a good job?

Let’s look at the arguments fielded to date about why Le Tissier and Benali would make poor managers. The first is a fatuous one. Too many Southampton fans place vanity above opportunity in willing these two young men to retain their legendary status, at the expense of their own careers.

Nothing, not even an unsuccessful stint in club management, will detract from the playing achievements of Le Tissier and to a lesser extent Benali. Anyone who says otherwise is admitting their own infatuation with fickleness.

Second in the short list of opposition is a suggestion that today’s players might not respect two former players without an ounce of management experience between them. Well, anyone who believes this should have been stood with me two years ago when Southampton Reserves played Salisbury in the cathedral city.

Across the park, young footballers and seasoned pros looked to an ageing left back for their inspiration. It would have taken a braver man than I to cross the pitch to complain about a mis-directed Benali clearance. From the second tier of the stand it was all I could do to mutter a frozen curse just so quiet as to be unheard on the playing surface!

As for Le Tissier, I’m reminded of a story former club captain Jason Dodd recounts. He tells how Alan Ball stood a young Matt on the centre circle of The Dell and commanded the remaining squad members, “when you get the ball, give it to him.” Ask Jason Dodd if he respects Matthew Le Tissier. Better still, ask Alan Shearer.

We all know that respect is earned not given, but since Benali and Le Tissier undoubtedly commanded it on the pitch, why should we expect them to fail off it?

And this brings us to the most valid argument of all. Should we employ an unproven management team? The bald truth is it’s a mighty risk. But a year ago we heralded the arrival of a man with all the experience in the world, hoping he could emulate a man whose most recent experience had been to relegate Coventry.

In reality, for every Stuart Gray there’s a Stuart Pearce. Why assume Le Tissier and Benali will fail? With the right support there’s no reason to believe that two players who gave everything to this club do not have even more to give. For me, this and the unity they would bring qualifies them to have a crack.

If we believe Harry Redknapp (and world salt supplies are running low on Harry’s words these days), here was a man in turmoil removed from his spiritual home and hating every moment of his working day. Yet still, only two teams in this league managed to beat ours – despite this latterly visible lack of passion and commitment from the top.

Now, imagine a dressing room at the hands of two genuine Southampton legends; two men for whom this club means so much more than a pay-check and a stepping stone to something more glorious. Yes, there’s a chance they’ll fail.

But there’s just as much chance they’ll succeed. And when it comes to football management 50:50 is good enough odds for me.

Betting and football management though, that’s another story altogether…