Send us your pictures and video by text, email or by uploading. Click here to find out how. »
6:00am Wednesday 7th May 2008
SAINTS chairman Leon Crouch insists he will keep working towards an EGM if no fresh investment comes into the club before next Friday.
But the club's largest individual shareholder, Michael Wilde, believes any further delay in changing the boardroom will be damaging to the club.
Crouch was in defiant mood as he addressed the press at the club's Staplewood training ground yesterday, flanked by chief executive Lee Hoos.
Both stand to be booted out of the club when Rupert Lowe and Wilde get their EGM on Friday, May 16.
Crouch is still hoping he can find a buyer for the club before then, with the Jonathon Fulthorpe, John Cousins and Dave Merrington consortium at the forefront of things.
The Daily Echo understands they are in daily contact with Fulthorpe and Cousins and gave them a target of this week to produce the money for their deal. But as yet, the club are still awaiting proof of funds - Fulthorpe and Cousins are still waiting to be told by the people with the funds that the money is there to go ahead and clinch a deal.
Crouch is tightly bound by PLC rules as to what he can say during an offer period.
But he confirmed the club is in talks, that he is NOT considering a handover date and is expecting an EGM if the investment doesn't come off.
He said: "We've been talking to various investors for several months now and hope that one of them will come forward and buy the club.
"I hope there is a buyer but there is no guarantee.
"If we don't get a buyer then we will carry on to the EGM."
Lowe and Wilde are certain to win any EGM as they are backed by 46 per cent of the club's shareholding.
Crouch, though, is believed to be hoping to buy enough time for the offer to come in by holding on, something which Wilde believes could be damaging.
"The simple fact of the matter is the season is now over, the result of the EGM is inevitable and any further delay at this stage is simply going to damage the preparations for next season," said Wilde.
"I feel sorry for the fans.
"The board are extending the process beyond what is necessary, making statements to the media and the delays are threatening our preparations for next season with contracts to be sorted out and a lot of work to be done.
"It needs to stop and it needs to stop now."
Full story in today's Daily Echo
CHEESLEY, Ringmer says...
6:37am Wed 7 May 08
couzzy, says...
6:46am Wed 7 May 08
Terry, says...
7:30am Wed 7 May 08
crew 657, new forest says...
8:07am Wed 7 May 08
MalcolmWelch, Torrevieja, Spain says...
8:08am Wed 7 May 08
Matt Clarke, Ringwood says...
8:10am Wed 7 May 08
Wildes brain Cell, says...
8:10am Wed 7 May 08
Mr ABCD, says...
9:28am Wed 7 May 08
Derry, west hampshire says...
10:38am Wed 7 May 08
AK47, Counting the days on my chuff chart says...
10:49am Wed 7 May 08
sarum saint, salisbury says...
11:01am Wed 7 May 08
Stuart, Fed up!!!! says...
11:35am Wed 7 May 08
sarum saint, salisbury says...
12:14pm Wed 7 May 08
Sunny Saint, Colchester, Essex says...
12:15pm Wed 7 May 08
AK47 wrote:AK47 You are obviously RL, but you have not got the Kahonaz to say it?
Crouch is a total arse. At the weekend end he spouts off about a serious investor and today he says are looking for investment and have been speaking to a number of investors which may or may not lead to investment. Please shut the F*** up crouch Im sick of all the false promises coming from your mouth. I expect your next statement will be we hope to secure investment in the next 24 to 36 months. There even some comedian on TSF going by the name of MORPH who is spouting off that a deal is imminent. No doubt one of crouches cronies, talking up the great messiah on his behalf. If we get investment all well and good if we dont , while crouch is in charge we will spiral into oblivian. Just a word of advice Mr Crouch Put your brain into gear before opening your mouth with false promises. Oh and start acting like a chairman with decorum and dignity for a change instead of gobbing off like an unruly football hooligan.
stoned saint, says...
12:37pm Wed 7 May 08
SFC4EVA, Soton says...
12:48pm Wed 7 May 08
AK47, Counting the days on my chuff chart says...
1:22pm Wed 7 May 08
SAINT BEAN, Southampton says...
1:33pm Wed 7 May 08
Saint, says...
1:34pm Wed 7 May 08
True Blue, Fareham says...
2:06pm Wed 7 May 08
G.Dawson, says...
2:35pm Wed 7 May 08
the totton scrutineer, TOTTON says...
4:06pm Wed 7 May 08
Jenny S, says...
4:24pm Wed 7 May 08
costa mike, Alicante says...
4:31pm Wed 7 May 08
Costa Baz, says...
4:47pm Wed 7 May 08
stripey wrote:I too have asked this question in the past, but I have to say, despite loathing Lowe with a passion, if Crouch knows he will lose the EGM and if his words about "still talking to potential investors" are nothing but a delaying tactic, then he should put a stop to it right now. First and foremost we fans and the players need to know NOW who will be team manager when the next season kicks off, so that preparations can begin immediately. We can do without waiting for a new manager to arrive in mid July, with a brief to decide which players to keep and which ones to get rid of. With Lowe in charge, I can only see one future for the club. As many players as possible will be released, and not just the worst ones. Many of the better players will be going simply to reduce the wage bill. They will be replaced by players from Leagues 1 & 2, because Lowe will not pay the wages that will be demanded by players leaving Championship and (dare I say it) Premiership teams. Lowe's intransigence when it comes to spending money will also see us miss out on signing decent Premiership young players on loan, again because he will not want to pay their wages. The worrying thing is that we will see history repeat itself. When Lowe was in charge during our Premiership years, he underfunded all his managers, forcing them to bring in substandard players, many only being Championship quality, and we ended up being relegated to the Championship. If we replenish the squad from Div's 1 & 2 then another relegation could well be on the cards. Let's hope that Lowe has learnt from his previous spell in charge, where he was the FIRST CHAIRMAN TO LEAD US TO RELEGATION IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS!! As for Wilde, I think all fans should treat him with the contempt he deserves. When the sh1t hit the fan he scuttled off to his hideout in the Channel Islands and has only just recovered his bottle, but only because he is holding on to lowe's shirt tails.
If they only control 46% of the votes of members how can they be "certain to win any EGM?" Unless things have changed since I was at school that leaves 54% that they don't control and they would need some of those votes too. So who else supports Lowe and Wilde?
Ric Flair, says...
4:49pm Wed 7 May 08
Tracey, Southampton says...
5:03pm Wed 7 May 08
stripey wrote:stripey,
If they only control 46% of the votes of members how can they be "certain to win any EGM?" Unless things have changed since I was at school that leaves 54% that they don't control and they would need some of those votes too. So who else supports Lowe and Wilde?
Dave, says...
5:18pm Wed 7 May 08
Ric Flair wrote:Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)?
I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,
Mark Rees, San Francisco (Ex Pat) says...
5:24pm Wed 7 May 08
Triple H, says...
5:26pm Wed 7 May 08
Dave wrote:I know Ric Flair, He is an grown man and he wants to help his club sfc, but pompey hate saints but ric flair loves them, but the next a time pompey fan posts, thats when it gets boring
Ric Flair wrote: I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)? Every time i see 'Ric Flair' on the threads i wilt into my chair. At least the Pompey fans who post on here are either funny, controversial or provocative, you're just intolerably boring, please please please can you stop posting.
Derek, Dibden Purlieu says...
7:10pm Wed 7 May 08
SAINTS chairman Leon Crouch
Mark, southampton says...
7:33pm Wed 7 May 08
Benny Fitt, Thornhill says...
7:34pm Wed 7 May 08
Triple H wrote:We only have your word for it that he is a grown man!
Dave wrote:I know Ric Flair, He is an grown man and he wants to help his club sfc, but pompey hate saints but ric flair loves them, but the next a time pompey fan posts, thats when it gets boringRic Flair wrote: I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)? Every time i see 'Ric Flair' on the threads i wilt into my chair. At least the Pompey fans who post on here are either funny, controversial or provocative, you're just intolerably boring, please please please can you stop posting.
Sunny Saint, Colchester, Essex says...
7:53pm Wed 7 May 08
AK47 wrote:Oh Dear AK,
Oh Dear Sunny Saint. another deluded moron who cannot see the wood for the trees. Just to clear one thing up , I am not Rupert Lowe. so wipe that pathetic thought from your mind. I do not want Wilde anywhere near the club either and concur with your comments. I remain open minded about RL, however my anti crouch stance is based on the fact that he has failed to delivier anything but negativity since he first came to the board room. By the way he was involved in bringinhg Hone and Co to the club. or had you forgotten. Since he became chair back in December, he has done nothing apart from siding with SISA to give me confidence in the future of the club. Please open your eyes wide open, forget about Lowe and Wilde a moment what is it that makes you think that Crouch is the clubs hero. he is inept, he may be a saints fan and so are you and I but surely that dosent mean he or us are any more capable of running the club any more succesfully. One final note Pleb, I am not Rupert Lowe and have been out of the country for the last few months. and if you looked at my previous posts it will give you an indication where I am currently based.
pugwash, southampton says...
9:48pm Wed 7 May 08
stripey wrote:WHEN THE CLUB BECAME A PLC IT GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUPPORTERS LIKE MYSELF TO BUY SHARES IN THE CLUB AND OWN OUR LITTLE BIT,AND IN DOING SO UNDERSTAND HOW WELL THE CLUB SUCCEEDED WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A 'SUGAR DADDY' TO SURVIVE IN THE PREMIERSHIP.UNDER RUPERT LOWE AND THE BOARD,THE TURNOVER INCREASED FROM THE SMALLEST IN THE PREMIERSHIP IN 1997 TO THE TENTH LARGEST IN 2004(BIGGER THAN EVERTON AND ASTON VILLA)AND AT THE SAME TIME MOVED FROM THE 15,000 SEATER DELL TO THE 32,000 SEATER ST. MARYS.THE CLUB BECAME A SOLID MID-TABLE OUTFIT AS AGAINST PERENNIAL RELEGATION FAVOURITES,THE FINANCES WERE STABLE AND STRONG.SO I IMAGINE A LOT OF SMALL SHAREHOLDERS LIKE MYSELF WILL BE BACKING THE LOWE,RICHARDS,COWAN,
If they only control 46% of the votes of members how can they be \"certain to win any EGM?\" Unless things have changed since I was at school that leaves 54% that they don\'t control and they would need some of those votes too. So who else supports Lowe and Wilde?
Realist, Lymington says...
11:21pm Wed 7 May 08
stripey wrote:I hope you paid more attention at school than you seem to have done with regard to this situation, if you have you would realise that at most egm's and especially with Saints in that shares are so spread out, that 80% is considered a good turnout.
If they only control 46% of the votes of members how can they be \"certain to win any EGM?\" Unless things have changed since I was at school that leaves 54% that they don\'t control and they would need some of those votes too. So who else supports Lowe and Wilde?
Paul TS, Swanwick says...
11:27pm Wed 7 May 08
Roger, says...
11:34pm Wed 7 May 08
Paul TS, Swanwick says...
11:41pm Wed 7 May 08
Chris Wille, Oregon USA says...
2:07am Thu 8 May 08
True Blue, Fareham says...
7:25am Thu 8 May 08
True Blue wrote:So you thought I was joking!
To ALL Saints fans who post on Echo sites! Today is a glorious, sunny day, when everyone should be outside, enjoying themselves! When, on such a day, Crew 657, living in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, the New Forest, instead of getting out to enjoy the sun and fresh air, is on here polluting these sites, the question has to be asked! WHY? I think I have the answer! He is agoraphobic! He would love to be outside, mixing with people, but he has a pathological fear of being in open spaces! Mind you, he Dreams of being in the big, wide world, which is why he makes all these imaginary dates to 'have a rumble', but in truth, he can only make it to his garden gate! Sad really! So please have pity on this brain-damaged soldier! Please do not respond to his rants, because it only makes him worse, and makes the job of his mental health carers that much more difficult! Please - Do Not mock the afflicted!
Saint Paul, London says...
8:05am Thu 8 May 08
Chris Wille, Oregon USA says...
8:41am Thu 8 May 08
True Blue wrote:Have a nice day people.
True Blue wrote: To ALL Saints fans who post on Echo sites! Today is a glorious, sunny day, when everyone should be outside, enjoying themselves! When, on such a day, Crew 657, living in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, the New Forest, instead of getting out to enjoy the sun and fresh air, is on here polluting these sites, the question has to be asked! WHY? I think I have the answer! He is agoraphobic! He would love to be outside, mixing with people, but he has a pathological fear of being in open spaces! Mind you, he Dreams of being in the big, wide world, which is why he makes all these imaginary dates to 'have a rumble', but in truth, he can only make it to his garden gate! Sad really! So please have pity on this brain-damaged soldier! Please do not respond to his rants, because it only makes him worse, and makes the job of his mental health carers that much more difficult! Please - Do Not mock the afflicted!So you thought I was joking! Well, would anyone who was fit and 'ready to rumble' be spending his time inside on a nice sunny day? Would he also be up half the night spending time on here if he was not sick? Of course not! I trust that he is being looked after by social services, and given help by the British Legion. Maybe he is a resident in The Priory, which is near Saint's training ground! Whatever or wherever, I think he deserves our pity!
John B, Bitterne says...
8:58am Thu 8 May 08
Saint Paul wrote:I think Lowe will be Better than Crouch.
Ive read all the posts for and against Lowe coming back. There are a lot of pro's and cons and i can fully understand why fans wouldnt like to see a man that was ousted come back to the helm. However i think im right in saying that he did alot of good for the club and if you compare a returning chairman to Stoke FC situation then benefits can be had your thoughts
rational, says...
10:26am Thu 8 May 08
Biggy, Southampton says...
12:22pm Thu 8 May 08
rational, says...
12:41pm Thu 8 May 08
Biggy wrote:Actually, as soon as Leon announced that he would side with Wilde, Lowe immediately accepted he could not win and stepped down before the EGM.
Damaging the club by holding on!!! Of course, Mr Lowe never did that when it was inevitable he would be ousted did he!!!
Biggy, Southampton says...
5:04pm Thu 8 May 08
rational wrote:You're wrong. Lowe didn't step down as soon as Leon made his announcement. He dragged it out until the day before the EGM.
Biggy wrote: Damaging the club by holding on!!! Of course, Mr Lowe never did that when it was inevitable he would be ousted did he!!!Actually, as soon as Leon announced that he would side with Wilde, Lowe immediately accepted he could not win and stepped down before the EGM. Up to that point, Leon dithered over who he would support, meaning neither party had a sizable percentage. The shares backing Lowe and Wilde are substantially greater than those opposing Lowe 2 years ago.
rational, says...
7:15pm Thu 8 May 08
Biggy wrote:Don't really want to argue with you, but the full story is available in the club's official site and the Echo's archives.
rational wrote:You're wrong. Lowe didn't step down as soon as Leon made his announcement. He dragged it out until the day before the EGM. I'm sure he'd have actually dragged it out to the EGM itself if he'd not been too spineless to turn up! Incidentally, he set the date for the EGM as late as stock market rules would allow. Surley if he'd had the club's best interests at heart he'd have set an earlier date, forcing Leon off the fence sooner.Biggy wrote: Damaging the club by holding on!!! Of course, Mr Lowe never did that when it was inevitable he would be ousted did he!!!Actually, as soon as Leon announced that he would side with Wilde, Lowe immediately accepted he could not win and stepped down before the EGM. Up to that point, Leon dithered over who he would support, meaning neither party had a sizable percentage. The shares backing Lowe and Wilde are substantially greater than those opposing Lowe 2 years ago.
Terry, Hanys says...
7:46pm Thu 8 May 08
Biggy wrote:Crouch set the date of the coming EGN as late as the stock market rules allow but thats ok because its not Lowe? Surely if Crouch had the best interests of the club at heart he would have set an earlier date.
rational wrote:You're wrong. Lowe didn't step down as soon as Leon made his announcement. He dragged it out until the day before the EGM. I'm sure he'd have actually dragged it out to the EGM itself if he'd not been too spineless to turn up! Incidentally, he set the date for the EGM as late as stock market rules would allow. Surley if he'd had the club's best interests at heart he'd have set an earlier date, forcing Leon off the fence sooner.Biggy wrote: Damaging the club by holding on!!! Of course, Mr Lowe never did that when it was inevitable he would be ousted did he!!!Actually, as soon as Leon announced that he would side with Wilde, Lowe immediately accepted he could not win and stepped down before the EGM. Up to that point, Leon dithered over who he would support, meaning neither party had a sizable percentage. The shares backing Lowe and Wilde are substantially greater than those opposing Lowe 2 years ago.
Ric Flair, says...
8:40pm Thu 8 May 08
Dave wrote:Shut up c*nt, I'm the one that invented southampton fc, and when you were a baby sh1tting in your nappy, i was scoring hat-tricks for saints at the time,
Ric Flair wrote: I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)? Every time i see 'Ric Flair' on the threads i wilt into my chair. At least the Pompey fans who post on here are either funny, controversial or provocative, you're just intolerably boring, please please please can you stop posting.
St Mark, Northampton says...
8:40pm Thu 8 May 08
St Mark, Northampton says...
8:48pm Thu 8 May 08
St Mark wrote:Also:
Did anyone see South today tonight?
Chris Wille, Oregon USA says...
11:40pm Thu 8 May 08
Ric Flair wrote:Sad, sad, sad, both of you.
Dave wrote:Shut up c*nt, I'm the one that invented southampton fc, and when you were a baby sh1tting in your nappy, i was scoring hat-tricks for saints at the time, So you dont tell me what the f*ck to do,Ric Flair wrote: I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)? Every time i see 'Ric Flair' on the threads i wilt into my chair. At least the Pompey fans who post on here are either funny, controversial or provocative, you're just intolerably boring, please please please can you stop posting.
crew 657, new forest says...
12:40am Fri 9 May 08
Chris Wille wrote:i know isnt it pathetic..infighting scum...its the only fighting theyre any good at
Ric Flair wrote:Sad, sad, sad, both of you.
Dave wrote:Shut up c*nt, I'm the one that invented southampton fc, and when you were a baby sh1tting in your nappy, i was scoring hat-tricks for saints at the time, So you dont tell me what the f*ck to do,Ric Flair wrote: I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)? Every time i see 'Ric Flair' on the threads i wilt into my chair. At least the Pompey fans who post on here are either funny, controversial or provocative, you're just intolerably boring, please please please can you stop posting.
Ric Flair, says...
9:28pm Fri 9 May 08
crew 657 wrote:I can wrestle, because i am a 16 time world champion
Chris Wille wrote:i know isnt it pathetic..infighting scum...its the only fighting theyre any good atRic Flair wrote:Sad, sad, sad, both of you.Dave wrote:Shut up c*nt, I'm the one that invented southampton fc, and when you were a baby sh1tting in your nappy, i was scoring hat-tricks for saints at the time, So you dont tell me what the f*ck to do,Ric Flair wrote: I can buy the club, I have enough investment to put in, and i have got more shares than anyone,Listen mate, you've been persisting with this 'joke' now for so long, surely you can't still think it's funny (it wasn't funny the first time by the way)? Every time i see 'Ric Flair' on the threads i wilt into my chair. At least the Pompey fans who post on here are either funny, controversial or provocative, you're just intolerably boring, please please please can you stop posting.
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Search for jobs with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
Find the right person for you with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
Search for homes with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
Search for cars with the Daily Echo
Search Now »
stripey, says...
6:33am Wed 7 May 08