• Appointment follows departure of Nicola Cortese
• Katharina Liebherr ‘keen to bring stability’ to club

Southampton have appointed Gareth Rogers as their interim chief executive officer with immediate effect.

The decision comes a week after Nicola Cortese quit as executive chairman. Cortese, who had smoothed Markus Liebherr’s £14m purchase of the south-coast club in 2009, left after originally offering to resign to the current owner, Markus’s daughter Katharina, in October – once it was clear he did not share her vision for Southampton’s future.

Rogers has been the Premier League club’s chief financial officer since March 2011 and Katharina Liebherr, who took over as non-executive chairman following Cortese’s exit, said: “I am delighted that Gareth has agreed to step into this role. After the events of the past week, my priority has been to bring stability to the management of the club and I am pleased that we have been able to make this appointment from within. We had a very positive meeting with all the staff of the club on Monday and I am sure Gareth’s appointment will be warmly received.”

Rogers added: “I am very pleased to be able to help the club by stepping up to the CEO’s job on an interim basis. We have a fantastic staff and everyone is working together to make sure the club ends the season as strongly as possible.”

The Southampton manager, Mauricio Pochettino, had described the departure of Cortese – the man who hired him – as a “heavy blow” but has pledged to remain in his role until at least the end of the season. He has also been told by the owner that no players will be sold in the January transfer window.

• Southampton
• Mauricio Pochettino

theguardian.com