Southampton Football Club News

• Nickname:Saints
• Founded:1885
• Manager:Nigel Adkins

• Ground:St. Mary's Stadium
• Capacity:32,551

John exit angers fans

28 Oct 2008 - 07:33:26

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The decision to loan Stern John to Bristol City before Saturday's 3-0 loss at Swansea led to a chorus of boos from Saints away fans during the match.

The 1,000 travelling fans chanted for John, and the head of chairman Rupert Lowe, after a performance bereft of attacking football.

Manager Jan Poortvliet has attempted to explain the striker's departure, blaming the decision on a need to free the club from John's wages.

"The actual reason you all know," Poortvliet told the Daily Echo. "We talked at the beginning of the season of the wage bill and that's still a problem."

That is unlikely to satisfy Saints fans who have 20-year-old David McGoldrick and midfielder Andrew Surman tied as the club's top scorer with three goals each.

With few other options, McGoldrick and Bradley Wright-Phillips could continue in attack when the Saints host 17th-placed Coventry on Tuesday evening.