Strachan will buy to bring life to Saints

Gordon Strachan took over as the manager at Southampton yesterday and promised to bring new faces, attacking football and a change in the fortunes to the club. The only rider he attached to his mission statement was that he was unable to say precisely when he will deliver.

"I'm confident of turning things around, but I can't give you any date on it," said the 44-year-old Scot, who takes over from the sacked Stuart Gray just six weeks after parting company with Coventry. "Alex Ferguson couldn't answer that question. He couldn't say how long. Time will tell. But I hope we'll buy ourselves some time by winning a few games."

Strachan has signed a two-year contract and will have Garry Pendrey, who worked with him at Highfield Road, as his first-team coach. He faces the first test in his new job tomorrow when Southampton host Ipswich at St Mary's. The Saints, second from bottom of the Premiership, have yet to secure a point in three Premiership games at the their new home and have scored just one goal there.

"Our lack of goals is a worry," Strachan said, addressing one area of immediate concern. "We have to create more chances, get more people in the box." He said he hopes to bring new faces to the club soon and hinted that he might already have some targets in mind. "I hope the current players will respond to the new players, who I believe will add quality and determination to the side," he said.

Gray was known to be looking for at least three new recruits before his departure – a central defender, a creative midfielder and a proven striker – and it appears Strachan will be seeking similar. Southampton's chairman, Rupert Lowe, confirmed that there is money to spend.

"There are always funds available," he said. "I've stated the funds we accepted reluctantly for Dean Richards [£8.1m from Tottenham] will be made available to strengthen the squad and that remains the case. We hope to make an announcement about someone that we've been working on for some time."

On the subject of the departed Gray, Lowe said he had been appointed "out of loyalty and because he is an excellent coach".

"It has not worked out," he added. "Four wins in 17 league games, as caretaker last season and permanent manager since July, was not enough. Stuart was aware success was required quickly and he took some risks. Myself and the board probably feel to some extent responsible for the fact it hasn't worked out."

Lowe was succinct in his reasons for choosing Strachan. "In Gordon we have appointed a true leader who has managed and played at the highest level, he said. "Gordon brings knowledge, experience, passion and motivation to the club."

Had Coventry avoided relegation in May and still been in the top flight, their poor start to the season (three losses from five games) might have been forgiven. Instead, the pressure of expectation for an immediate return to the Premiership led to his departure, by mutual consent, on 10 September.

Southampton, Lowe hopes, will now benefit from the experience of a man who won league titles as a player at Aberdeen and Leeds, the FA Cup at Manchester United, and plaudits for his amiable, honest and hard-working approach against the odds at Highfield Road. There is little doubt that his motivational qualities, man management and ability to attract new recruits sealed his appointment.

"I've come to Southampton because they wanted me – simple as that," Strachan said. "The only people I need to keep happy are the chairman and the supporters of Southampton," he added, making his task sound infinitely easier than it is likely to be.