Former Holland international Jan Poortvliet has been named as the new coach at the St Mary's Stadium. Poortvliet takes charge of Southampton with a wealth of experience, and during his playing days even helped Holland to the World Cup 1978 final.

Chairman Michael Wilde told the club's official website: "We are extremely grateful for Nigel's contribution. He came to the club at a time of crisis and through his hard work and commitment we were able to avoid relegation on the last day.

"However, the board have been looking closely at the situation on the playing side of the club whereby we are inevitably going to have to depend to a large extent on the quality of our youngsters in the academy and the reserve team.

"Our view on that was we would need to adopt a European-style coaching system comprising head coach, with the objective of linking the academy to the first team.

"The board believe this will create opportunities for our younger players, which might not occur within the traditional English management structure."