Strachan eyes Saints success

Strachan is introduced by his new chairman

Gordon Strachan has been officially unveiled as Southampton's new manager after the sacking of Stuart Gray.

The Scot arrived on the south coast four weeks after parting company with Coventry City.

Strachan took training with Southampton before being paraded at a news conference.

"I'm confident we can turn it round but I can't say how quickly," Strachan said.

We have to create more chances - fortune favours the brave

Gordon Strachan

"It depends on how lucky we get but we must buy ourselves some time by winning a few games.

"First of all I want to give the players here a chance.

"But it's staring everyone in the face that the problem is the lack of goals.

"We have to create more chances, get more people in the box. Fortune favours the brave."

Garry Pendrey, who worked with Strachan at Coventry, also joins Southampton as coach.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said: "This appointment is about the long-term future of Southampton Football Club and our fans.

"In Gordon we have appointed a true leader who has managed and played at the highest level.

"Gordon brings knowledge, experience, passion and motivation to the club.

The club is in need of a fresh approach

Rupert Lowe

"The club has a great future in our wonderful new stadium, and all our attentions are now directed to Wednesday's home game with Ipswich."

Gray, who took charge after Glenn Hoddle's departure in March, paid the price for a poor start to the season.

His assistant Mick Wadsworth also left the south coast club.

Strachan was at Upton Park on Saturday to see West Ham leapfrog Gray's Saints near the bottom of the table.

Lowe revealed Gray's departure in a statement released on Sunday.

"We believe the club is in need of a fresh approach to bring some self-belief and cohesion to the squad to produce the results a club of this size expects," Lowe had said.

"Stuart did a good job at the end of last season and we appointed him on the basis that the progress would continue.

"Regrettably, it has not been the case and, with sadness, the board decided that the time was right to seek new direction."

Strachan, who was at the helm when Coventry were relegated from the Premiership last season, faces an uphill task if he is not to suffer the same fate.

Despite finishing last season with back-to-back wins over Arsenal and Manchester United, the Saints have never sparked this season.

Saturday's Upton Park defeat was their sixth in eight Premiership games.