Adkins targets Europe

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is not only hopeful the newly-promoted side will avoid relegation but believes they will soon be challenging for Europe and ultimately the Premier League title.

The south coast side return to the top flight this season after a tumultuous seven-year absence, which saw them drop to the third tier and teeter dangerously close to liquidation. Southampton were saved from extinction by the late Swiss billionaire Markus Liebherr, who appointed Nicola Cortese to run the club as executive chairman.

Three seasons on and Saints are back in the Premier League and Adkins believes the club can now look forward an exciting period in its history. He told Press Association Sport: "It's a very positive future ahead."

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