Saints confirm Sturrock as new boss

Paul Sturrock was today confirmed as the new Southampton manager, with the former Plymouth Argyle boss being unveiled as Gordon Strachan's successor at the St Mary's Stadium.

Southampton have agreed a £500,000 compensation package with the Second Division leaders for the 47-year-old Scot.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe turned his attentions to Sturrock after Glenn Hoddle withdrew from the race because of opposition to his appointment within the boardroom and from supporters.

The former Tottenham manager tore up his application after Lowe failed to persuade directors to back Hoddle's reappointment.

Sturrock, a former Scotland teammate of Strachan's, has carved out a reputation as one of the Football League's brightest managers.

He enjoyed success with St Johnstone and Dundee United before guiding Plymouth from the lower reaches of Division Three to the top of Division Two.

Sturrock's appointment came as Southampton were accused of using the same recruitment tactics that destroyed Hoddle's hopes of a return to the club.

Hoddle left Southampton for Spurs mid-season three years ago, but now it is the Saints who have done the poaching by luring Sturrock.

Plymouth vice-chairman Peter Jones said: "We are extremely disappointed, in fact devastated, with Southampton, who have done what Spurs did to them with Hoddle. We can't keep a man who doesn't want to be here."

Sturrock had signed a new fiveyear deal at Plymouth last summer but a clause inserted in the contract allowed him to talk to Premiership clubs.

His appointment was also criticised by Saints' supporters, who admitted that it made Lowe's attack on Tottenham's "north London yobbos" look hypocritical.

"We've done exactly the same to Plymouth as we accused Spurs of doing to us," said Nick Illingworth, of the Southampton Independent Supporters Association.

Hoddle opted to withdraw from the race yesterday, claiming he did not want to split the board by taking the helm, though the reaction of Southampton's furious fans may have contributed to his decision.

Hours later, Sturrock, who quit Dundee United in 2000 fearing he was heading for a nervous breakdown, headed along the south coast to meet Lowe.

Plymouth vice-chairman Jones said he could not blame Sturrock for wanting to step up.

"We love him. We're desperately sad to lose him," he said. "But a man of that calibre, if he gets the chance to pit his wits against (Arsene) Wenger and Sir Alex (Ferguson) and so forth, those opportunities don't come very often."