Sturrock named Southampton manager
LONDON, England -- English Premier League Southampton have unveiled former Plymouth Argyle boss Paul Sturrock as their new manager.
Sturrock, who has taken Argyle from the depths of the Third Division to the top of Division Two, has replaced Gordon Strachan, after finally agreeing personal terms on Wednesday.
Strachan stood down last month, having initially said in January he would leave at the end of the season to take a break from top-flight football.
Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe said: "Whilst no managerial appointment comes with a guarantee of success, Paul has what I consider to be all the qualities to become one of the rising stars of Premier League management.
"I have no doubt that there will be some comment in the media as to whether Paul can change gear and leapfrog the First Division. If I did not believe that he could, we would not have made the appointment."
"It is a sad day. I don't want anyone to think that this is not a gut-wrenching decision for me," said Sturrock, 47.
"The challenges of football that have been put in place, the lure of the Premiership, are what all managers dream of.
"The timing was very disappointing, to say the least. I would like to have finished what we have started this season, but football is like that sometimes. It kicks you in the teeth."
Sturrock arrives with no experience of top-flight football management in England although the former Scottish international has achieved impressive results at the lower levels.
After a playing career spent entirely with Dundee United, Sturrock's first management positions were with St Johnstone and his old club, before he moved south of the border to join Plymouth in October 2000.
He turned them from relegation battlers to Division Three champions in his first full season, 2001-2002. They are now four points clear at the top of Division Two after scoring an impressive 70 goals in 34 league games.
Southampton, FA Cup finalists last season under Strachan, said they would pay Plymouth compensation for recruiting their manager at a key stage of their season.
"The timing of the appointment allows him to have a full week to prepare the players ahead of the televised sell-out at home to Liverpool a week on Sunday," the club said.
Plymouth vice-chairman Peter Jones summed up the situation by saying: "We have a choice -- we can squeal like a stuck pig or we can roll up our sleeves and get on with it. Everyone at the club is firmly committed to the latter course."
