Saints supporters will be saddened to hear that ex manager George Burley has been diagnosed with Cancer and has started treatment for the disease, I am sure we all hope that he makes a complete recovery.

George Burley arrived at St Mary's in December on 23rd December 2005, succeeding Harry Redknapp.

He managed the club for just over 2 years, departing on 24th January 2008, in his only full season in charge of the team he took Saints to the Championship play offs where we lost on penalties away at Derby County.

Bizarrely enough in the 16 years and 8 months since he left the managers job, there have been 14 permanent managers in the job, if you include those who took over in the short term such as Nigel Pearson & Ruben Selles.

Very few Saints managers have managed to stay more than his 2 years and 1 month in the hot seat, Alan Pardew just about managed it by a few days, Nigel Adkins was the only other manager to do so up to Ralph Hassenhuttl's appointment 10 years to the month after Burley left the club with the Austrian almost making 4 years in charge.

Of course the club George Burley is most connected with is Ipswich Town where he was a legend as a player and also took them to promotion to the Premier League as a manager.

George Burley did a decent enough job for Saints, but as time went on it became clear that the club was falling apart due to players being signed and then Chairman Michael Wilde not matching his promises with cash.

So I would think that the hopes and prayers of all Southampton supporters will be with George Burley at this moment in time

Photo: Action Images

codge added 20:13 - Sep 10 Wish him all the best for a positive outcome.
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Bowlercow added 13:25 - Sep 11 If ever there was a manager who was not given the backing he deserved it was Burley I wish him all the best in his battle against vancer
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halftimeorange added 16:55 - Sep 11 George made Rickie Lambert what he became, turning an overweight, unfit journeyman into a prolific goal scorer and a Saints legend. Good luck, George.
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