Football Season Guide

Southampton returned to the Championship for 2011/12 after a runners-up finish in League One last season behind Brighton. In his first season in charge at St. Mary’s Nigel Adkins has revitalised the Saints and supporters will be hoping their side can emulate Norwich City in pushing for a second successive promotion back to the top flight. Saints have been relatively quiet in the transfer market so far this summer which says more about the quality already within the squad. Chelsea youngster Jack Cork and Belgian midfielder Steve De Ridder are the only arrivals so far. A successful season for Saints will depend much upon whether they can fend off interest in starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from England’s elite, while talismanic striker Ricky Lambert will also need to adapt well in his first ever season at Championship level. The spine of the side is packed with Championship experience, with the likes of Kelvin Davis, Richard Chaplow, David Connolly and Radhi Jaidi all successful at second tier level and above in previous years.