Keith Wyness makes Southampton confession as off-field deal completed

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted a new partnership with Closewood Air Conditioning won’t give Southampton any further room for spending.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the deal “won’t move the needle much”.

Southampton announced a new partnership with Closewood last week (15 October), which commenced for their 3-2 home loss against Leicester on Saturday (19 October).

The Saints have struck a raft of agreements with local companies in recent months following their return to the Premier League.

But on the pitch, Russell Martin’s side have picked up just one point from a potential 24 and sit 19th in the table.

Southampton deal ‘won’t give any further room for spending’, says Wyness

Wyness claimed the strategy of working with local businesses can be “very efficient”.

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I’ve got a soft spot for Southampton.

“But I’m afraid this smacks of a fan sponsoring the club, it’s obviously a local company.

“This deal is not going to move the needle much.

“I hope it works for them – clubs can still be very efficient with reaching their local fanbases.

“But this isn’t something which will bail the club out and give them a lot of room for spending.

“They’ve got a bit of a problem now, it helps that they can bring new partners in – but this is more someone who is already close to the club wanting to do some local marketing.”

In other news, Russell Martin sack update as Southampton line up replacement.

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The post Keith Wyness makes Southampton confession as off-field deal completed appeared first on Football Insider.