New Southampton executive chairman Nicola Cortese says the club's new owners have been overwhelmed by the response of the fans to their arrival.

Cortese, 40, arrived at the club last week following the takeover by Swiss businessman Markus Liebherr.

"The response has been unbelievable," Cortese told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's given us confirmation that what we did by buying the club was right. We feel proud about that and we're trying to respond to the welcome we've had."

Cortese was unveiled as executive chairman on 3 August, but he admitted he would have liked to have been in post more than five days before the Saints' opening day 1-1 draw with Millwall.

"I would have liked it if the team had started two or three weeks later because that would have allowed us to catch up on some preparation, which the team missed out on," he said.

"At the same time we'll get some more people in who we are looking to sign."

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