Saints in danger of losing Pochettino

The future of Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino is uncertain after Saints executive chairman Nicola Cortese last night resigned from his post at the club.

The club made the announcement on their official Twitter feed, adding a search has begun for a new chief executive officer. But they may also soon be looking for a new manager if Pochettino stays true to his word.

The Argentinian said last week that if Cortese was to leave, he would follow. “I would not understand staying in this role if Nicola was not here,” the Argentinian, appointed as successor to Nigel Adkins in January 2013, said at the time.

“The person that actually called me from the start, told me about the project and put their faith in me was Nicola. I have great respect as well for Southampton, the club and the supporters, but Nicola has been the one that has placed his trust and faith in me. I wouldn’t see myself in this club if it was not for him.”

Southampton club owner Katharina Liebherr will have to move quickly to reassure Pochettino. Liebherr, who in a reshuffle becomes non-executive chairman, confirmed Cortese’s exit last night: “With great regret we have accepted the resignation of Mr Cortese.

“He has done a wonderful job and we very much wanted him to stay. A search has now begun for a successor. It is business as usual and we will ensure that the manager, team and staff at the club have all the help and support they need.”

It is understood Cortese had been contemplating quitting due to divisions between him and Liebherr, who took over as the south-coast outfit’s owner after the death of her father Markus Liebherr in 2010.

Having entered administration just prior to the Liebherr takeover, Southampton began Cortese’s first season as executive chairman with a 10-point deduction but soon rose from the bottom of League One. They achieved back-to-back promotions in 2010/11 and 2011/12 as Adkins, brought in as a replacement for Alan Pardew, guided them to the Championship and then Premier League. After the sacking of Adkins, Pochettino led the Saints to a 14th-placed finish, ending their comeback top-flight campaign five points clear of the relegation zone.