[ad_pod ]

Usually, clubs won't be announcing any notable departures until the summer when the transfer window opens, although Southampton dropped a huge bombshell on Friday morning as they revealed that chairman Ralph Krueger is departing.

An official club statement was released, stating that, following talks with shareholders Gao Jisheng and Katharina Liebherr, the 59-year-old's contract at St Mary's Stadium would not be extended beyond the summer, although he has left early.

The statement also said that there will be no more information regarding the club's future leadership structure until the end of the season now that they have parted company with the Canadian-born man, with Premier League survival a priority.

Why should Southampton be more like Dortmund? Find out in the video below...

Krueger had been Saints chairman for five years and has said that he will treasure his time on the south coast. He might have fond memories, then, but most of the Southampton faithful who reacted on Twitter certainly don't.

You can find the best of what they had to say below...