SAINTS are working to finalise the appointment of new technical director Johannes Spors, amid a pledge to bolster the club's football department.
Spors, 42, currently serves as the global sporting director of 777 Group, who had stakes in Sevilla, Genoa, Standard Liege, Hertha Berlin and more.
The German worked as head of scouting at RB Leipzig and head of recruitment at Hamburg before becoming sporting director at Vitesse Arnhem in 2020.
Sport Republic's lead investor Dragan Solak assumed responsibility as Southampton chairman this week after Henrik Kraft's decision to step down.
In a statement, Solak said: "We will be strengthening our football management team in the near future, and we will share details of that as things are confirmed."
Work on bringing Spors to the club was already progressing well, and is still ongoing, but Saints were reluctant to reveal any further details prematurely.
🎙️#THFC linked Johannes Spors on the style of football he wants:
— SpursOTM (@SpurOTM) May 5, 2023
“I made it clear, I am standing for a certain playing style…It is intense. If you compare to the Premier League, more the Klopp direction than the Guardiola direction.” #THFC pic.twitter.com/tVxhEZ1T1u
Saints had planned for a new technical director to work alongside director of football operations Mark Bitcon, reporting to CEO Phil Parsons and the board.
Technical directors typically plan with coaches to design playing styles, develop scouting networks and directly work in recruitment and negotiations.
Saints believed they could progress using the foundations laid by former director of football Jason Wilcox, who departed for Man United in April 2024.
However, six points won from 21 Premier League matches and an impending relegation for the second time in three years has forced them to reconsider.
The role assumed by Spors, who boasts vast experience working in multi-club models, will also see him assist with Sport Republic's wider portfolio.
American investors 777 Group, who spectacularly failed in a bid to buy a 94 per cent stake in Everton last year, hired Spors at Genoa in December 2021.
General manager Spors was then promoted to global director, to oversee six named clubs within 777 Group's global portfolio just eight months later.
Three saw promotions from their respective divisions within 18 months (Red Star Paris to Ligue 2, Vasco De Gama to Brazilian Serie A and Genoa to Serie A).
As well as German, the inaugural FIFA Club Management Diploma-holder Spors is fluent in English with an understanding of French, Italian and Dutch.
Spors has been a regular speaker at global football conferences, sitting on panels to discuss the likes of data-driven decision-making and multi-club ownership.
He was heavily linked with Newcastle United last summer during their search for a new sporting director following Dan Ashworth's move to Man United.
Spors is credited with lowering the age and wages but increasing the value of his squads, spinning £20million profit on Radu Dragusin in 12 months at Genoa.
Media reports linked Saints to Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs, who was initially contacted, but they believe Spors is the outstanding candidate.
Sport Republic continues to reshuffle their football operations with Kraft also stepping down as chairman of French third-tier side Valenciennes on Thursday.
Dirk Gerkens, a senior executive and board member of Sokak's United Media group, and Sport Republic shareholder, was named as Kraft's replacement.
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