Wotte belatedly given Saints chance

Dutchman Mark Wotte has been handed the chance to boss Southampton - three years after he believed the job was going to be his.

Wotte, now 48, was in line to become Saints boss in December 2005 and at the time claimed he had been offered a two-and-a-half-year contract proposal.

However his decision to go public on Southampton's interest in hiring him appeared to backfire then. Former Saints players including Alan Ball urged the Saints board to consider other options, and eventually the club handed the job to current Scotland manager George Burley.

However on Friday night Wotte was handed responsibility for the Saints first team after his compatriot Jan Poortvliet resigned as head coach.

His first match in charge will come at Norwich on Tuesday, when Southampton will begin their pursuit of points under Wotte and their attempt to avoid relegation to Coca-Cola League One.

Southampton issued a short statement, confirming the change of leadership.

The statement said: "Following discussions with Southampton Football Club, Jan Poortvliet has this evening stepped down from his role as head coach with immediate effect.

"Poortvliet has taken the decision to stand down from his position in response to the club's poor home form.

"Mark Wotte has been asked by the board to take over as head coach, and he will now take charge of the team for Tuesday's trip to Norwich."