IAIN MACINTOSH: The gamble few would have backed

IT appears that we might all owe Nicola Cortese a grovelling apology.

The Southampton chairman was the object of everyone’s fury in January when he sacked Nigel Adkins and replaced him with Mauricio Pochettino.

He can’t sack the man who returned the club to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions, we spat. Oh yes he can. He doesn’t know what he’s doing, we raged. Oh yes he did. With a 2-0 victory over Adkins’ new team, Southampton all but secured their top flight status with six games left to play. So, humble pie anyone?