Saints confirm Lowe contact (From Daily Echo)

Saints confirm Lowe contact

4:20pm Wednesday 19th March 2008 in Sport By Adam Leitch, Chief Sports Writer

Following revelations in today's Daily Echo, Saints have confirmed that Rupert Lowe has contacted the club.

The Echo today reported that former chairmen Lowe and Michael Wilde were preparing to team up to try and regain power at St Mary's in a move which would threaten the position of chairman Leon Crouch.

This afternoon the club put an official statement to the Stock Exchange which read: "Following the article which appeared in today's Southern Daily Echo regarding Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, the Company confirms that it has been contacted by Mr Lowe.

"The Board of Southampton has asked Mr Lowe for a detailed proposal setting out his intentions for the Company which it has not yet received. Further announcements will be made in due course as and when necessary."

In an earlier statement released to the press Saints had been rather more circumspect and made a thinly veiled attack on Lowe and Wilde over the timing of their possible plans.

The statement read: "The Club are aware of the article which appeared in the Southern Daily Echo today regarding Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde.

"There is no intention to make any comment at this time as the board have not yet been required in writing to consider any proposal.

"All that matters at this stage of the season is the concentration of everyone (board, staff, manager, players and fans) upon the match against Coventry on Saturday and the need to succeed both then and in the following weeks.

"No true fan of the club or responsible shareholder could credibly identify themselves with such a controversial proposal at so delicate a time."