Former Southampton Manager Receiving Cancer Treatment

The news that former manager George Burley has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment will undoubtedly sadden Saints fans. Let’s hope he recovers fully.

George Burley, Harry Redknapp’s successor, came at St Mary’s on December 23, 2005.

He was the team’s manager for just over two years, leaving on January 24, 2008. During his one and only full season in command, he led Saints to the Championship play-offs, where we were defeated on away goals against Derby County.

Strangely enough, if you count those who temporarily took over like Nigel Pearson & Ruben Selles, there have been 14 permanent managers in the position in the 16 years and 8 months since he left.

Nigel Adkins was the only manager to do so until Ralph Hassenhuttl’s appointment 10 years to the month after Burley left the club, with the Austrian nearly making 4 years in charge. Very few Saints managers have managed to stay longer than his 2 years and 1 month in the hot seat; Alan Pardew just about managed it by a few days.

Naturally, Ipswich Town is the team that George Burley has the strongest ties to. As a manager, he guided the team to promotion to the Premier League and was a legendary player for them.

While George Burley performed a passable job for Saints, it soon became apparent that player signings and subsequent finance shortfalls from Chairman Michael Wilde were the main causes of the club’s disintegration.

Thus, I would assume that at this particular moment, George Burley is receiving the thoughts and prayers of all Southampton supporters.

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