Woodward move to soccer club confirmed

The Lions tour has raised question marks over the qualities of "hero-to-zero" Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward, but the Southampton Football Club will still welcome him with open arms.

Woodward yesterday was confirmed as technical director of the English Championship side, known as the Saints.

Southampton manager Harry Redknapp said: "He is coming in to learn. He's coming in to pick people's brains and I'm happy with that. But I am the manager and I pick the team and recommend the players."

Speculation had been growing over whether the deal would collapse due to Woodward's fall from his pedestal following the Lions' series loss to the All Blacks.

"There's a bit of a hero-to-zero type thing being played out in the English press about Sir Clive," said Simon Straker, deputy sports editor at the Southampton Daily Echo.

"We've had comment pieces in the paper - is this the right move, has the guy lost it, is his reputation still intact - but the actual thinking from within the club hasn't changed."

Redknapp told BBC Sport: "I know people have been criticising him for some of the things that have happened. I'm not an expert on rugby but I know what I see and the All Blacks look to be on another level.

"It was no lack of effort on the Lions part, they were outclassed and it's the same as any sport, the top managers have the best players."

The Southampton Daily Echo assistant sports editor, James Rose, said fans had started to question Woodward's value.

Some people were asking what he could offer and whether he was worth a full contract.

"But at the end of the day he's still got the World Cup to his name, and as far as [club] chairman Rupert Lowe is concerned, he has qualities the club needs," Mr Straker said.

"He's going to come out fighting as someone who still has plenty to offer."

Southampton was relegated last season to the championship division, the second tier of English football.

* Sir Clive's career

Mid 1970s to 1985: Fly half, centre for clubs Harlequins and Leicester

1980-84: Centre for England, 21 caps. Two Lions tours

1990: Henley club coach

1997: England Head Coach (2003 World Cup winner)

2005: Head coach of 2005 British and Irish Lions

August 2005: Technical director of Southampton Football Club