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What do you make of the Wilde and Lowe comeback?

RUPERT Lowe and Michael Wilde back at Saints!

Apparently it's a goer.

Lowe and Wilde are preparing to launch a joint bid to return to power and the club has confirmed to the Stock Exchange that it has been contacted by Lowe.

So what do the fans think about that?

Will the pair of them come back sadder but wiser, ready to steer Saints to a golden future?

Or will there, in the case of Rupert Lowe at least, be an element of I told you so - you couldn't do without me' about any return?

The vitriol splashed around during the Lowe Out' campaign exceeded even the torrent of abuse aimed at Glenn Hoddle after he abandoned the Saints ship and was then rumoured to want a return.

Was it a genuinely-held belief by the majority of Saints fans that Lowe had to go or just a small minority made much more vociferous by their passion.

What do they think now?

What do all Saints fans think?

E-mail your views to echosport@dailyecho.co.uk or comment on the form below.

5:20pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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Posted by: Hedge End Saint, Hedge End on 5:47pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I think some of the dopes that post on this site need to get it into their heads that we are not gonna attract a sugar daddy, so we need to be run by someone that knows what he's doing, unlike the shambles at the moment. I think Lowe would do a better job, but cannot see how he can return due to a section of blinkered fans. Mind you, I do feel it's a bit like our government i.e both sides as bad as each other!
Posted by: Wupert the Muppet in, his Gloucestershire farm on 6:01pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Never Apologise, Never Make Excuses and Never, Ever Go Back. Three Sound Rules for Any Good Business Person. Lowe always followed the first two so why is he ignoring the third and in my mind the most important one?
Posted by: Derek Boulter, Dundas, Ontario, Canada. on 6:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
It is time to look to the future, to bring back the Wilde and Lowe combination, would be taking backward steps. Southampton F.C. need new faces and definatley new money. I wish I knew where we could find either of these, however I don't. Dare I suggest a consortium of "Old Players". It may be crazy but it's better than the other choice.
Posted by: Derry, west hampshire on 6:52pm Thu 27 Mar 08
This club needs to move on. Rupert Lowe ably assisted by directors and management converting their shares in Saints into either cash or negotiable shares by becoming a plc signalled the decline. Lowe owns only a small amount of shares and whilst he was chairman was kept in place by the paying out of dividends to shareholders who kept him in power. His autocratic rule and the management of a football club were not compatible. Every penny the club earned should have been used to sustain the club not shareholders.

A football club especially one as small as ours is not capable of performing as a business and a football club.

Lowe, Wilde, Crouch and their supporters need to advertise their shares for sale and in the meantime get out of the club and keep out of the media.

We are a football club not a media circus, it would be best if they remembered that.
Posted by: Portswood Pete on 6:56pm Thu 27 Mar 08
As there is, was and never shall be a person rich enough and stupid enough to take us over we have 3 choices. Lowe, Crouch or Wilde. Wilde has proved beyond doubt that he was in way over his head and also lied about "investors lining up if Lowe is ousted". Crouch is well on the road to proving the same, his heart might be in the right place but his abilities fall far short, his dithering over a new manager is a case in point plus his "investment in 3-6 month, oh no, sorry, now it's 6-9 months". Which leaves us with Lowe, his biggest crime in some peoples eyes was being called Rupert. Ten managers in ten years? Maybe, but he was very unlucky in losing Strachan and Hoddle, Sturrock was a good appointment but proved to be out of his depth in the premier league, Gray was a fair shout at the time but Wigley was a poor decision but he had horrendous luck with injuries. Lowe and Wilde? I'd give them a go but I don't think a lot of fans will. Both tainted goods.
Posted by: Said it all before on 7:16pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Totally agree with Hedge End Saint.

When fans are calling for 'investment', what they are really saying is that they want some idiot billionaire to come and buy the club and then continue throwing millions into the club year after year. Sadly there are not enough to go around. You might as well sit there wishing to win the lottery and complaining every week when you don't!

As for the question in the article, my views at the time were that the 'manifesto' issued by Wilde and Crouch was designed solely to win the hearts and minds of the likes of SISA, but totally unrealistic and would never be met. History proves this correct.

Yes, a big money sugar daddy would be very welcome. In the meantime we need business brains at the helm to run the club properly (we can't spend what we haven't got) and allow the manager to do his job.

The first part of that is something Lowe excelled at. Could Wilde be the counterweight to ensure the second part?

I do not have any faith in Crouch and the current board. U-turns (Dodd & Gorman to the end of the season, then NP 2 days later), deadline day loan signings (if we needed a player why not start earlier and get the pick of what's availabe).

Plus the way he has handled the Lowe approach - how did this private call get in the public domain - stating it was an unwelcome distraction, then proceding to play it out in numerous articles.

For me, Lowe & Wilde could do right for the club, but as said above, there are probably too many bitter fans who pride themselves in getting rid of Lowe who would have to admit their stupidity if they accepted him back.
Posted by: PJR, Chandlers Ford on 7:34pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Wupert the Muppet in wrote:
Never Apologise, Never Make Excuses and Never, Ever Go Back. Three Sound Rules for Any Good Business Person. Lowe always followed the first two so why is he ignoring the third and in my mind the most important one?
Never Apologise, Never Make Excuses and Never, Ever Go Back Hmm, it didn't exactly go horribly wrong for Harry and Pompey now did it?
Posted by: the Truth Master, in the Real World on 8:50pm Thu 27 Mar 08
PJR wrote:
Wupert the Muppet in wrote: Never Apologise, Never Make Excuses and Never, Ever Go Back. Three Sound Rules for Any Good Business Person. Lowe always followed the first two so why is he ignoring the third and in my mind the most important one?
Never Apologise, Never Make Excuses and Never, Ever Go Back Hmm, it didn't exactly go horribly wrong for Harry and Pompey now did it?
NOT YET BUT TIME WILL TELL!!
Posted by: Martin L, Fareham on 8:51pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The return of Rupert Lowe would be very unpopular with most fans. His negative shadow continues to haunt the club. Thanks Rupert for delivering the stadium but you've had your time.
Posted by: Rupert Lowe, Southampton on 9:42pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Martin L wrote:
The return of Rupert Lowe would be very unpopular with most fans. His negative shadow continues to haunt the club. Thanks Rupert for delivering the stadium but you've had your time.
Dear Martin,
No sleep for you my lad,I shall RETURN.
Rupert
Posted by: princey-boy, Bitterne on 10:00pm Thu 27 Mar 08
No club in the world would re-employ a manager who had previously relegated that team by mis-management.
And no club in the world would re-employe a chairman who had previously relegated that team by mis-management.
Why should Southampton Football Club be any different.
Posted by: Adey, Salt Lake City U.S.A on 10:01pm Thu 27 Mar 08
If Lowe and Wilde do manage to take over SFC presume they will be willing to put in writing-answers to the questions they demanded from SISU-the only approach received for SFC?
Posted by: PUGWASH, southampton on 10:24pm Thu 27 Mar 08
WHERE DID RUPERT LOWE GO WRONG?HIS BIG MISTAKE WAS NOT GETTING GLEN HODDLE BACK AND THIS WAS BECAUSE HE DECIDED TO 'LISTEN TO THE FANS' WHICH MANY SEEM TO THINK HE NEVER DID.MCMENEMY WHINES ABOUT THE LAST TEN YEARS BEING 'A DISASTER'WHEN UP UNTIL 2005,THE CLUBS INCOME HAD INCREASED FROM £15M. TO £50M.WE HAD MOVED FROM THE ANTIQUE DELL TO THE STATE OF ART ST. MARY'S,ALL ON THE CLUBS OWN BACK AND WITHOUT ANY SUGAR DADDY.THE ACADEMY WAS BRINGING THROUGH YOUNG PLAYERS REGULARLY HAVING HAD THE RIGHT INVESTMENT PLACED IN IT.I THINK THE PRESENT BOARD ARE OUT OF THEIR DEPTH AND IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEY WILL TAKE THE CLUB TO DEPTHS WE'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE.
I BELIEVE THAT WILDE HAS NOW REALISED THAT BEING A CHAIRMAN OF A FOOTBALL CLUB IS FAR DIFFERENT TO THAT OF AN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS AND MAY NOW APPRECIATE WHAT RUPERT WAS ACHIEVING AT ST. MARY'S.IT'S SAD THAT CROUCH CAN'T ADMIT TO THE SAME THING,AND A SHAME HE NEEDED TO USE THE UNVEILING OF TED BATES STATUE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ANOTHER DIG AT LOWE.
ANOTHER WORRYING ASPECT RECENTLY IS THE SUPPING UP BY SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE RECENT FORUM TOWARDS THOSE 'SUPPORTER GROUPS' STATING HOW THE CLUB MUST START TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.THIS CLUB LISTENED TO THEM REGARDING HODDLE,AND NOW WHERE ARE WE....
NO,BRING RUPERT BACK WITH COWAN,ASKHAM AND RICHARDS AND LET'S GET THE CLUB MOVING BACK TOWARDS THE PREMIERSHIP,AND WHO KNOWS,SOME OF THAT MUCH NEEDED INVESTMENT COULD COME THE CLUBS WAY WITH THEM.
Posted by: Ken Kerchaval on 7:27am Fri 28 Mar 08
No club in the world would re-employ a manager who had previously relegated that team by mis-management.

We've re-employed McMenemy haven't we? He got us relegated in 1974, or was that the then Chairman?
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden, A Cave far far away on 9:53am Fri 28 Mar 08
Great, now bring back Stuart Gray as manager and were conferance bound baby!!!
Posted by: John, Sydenham on 10:48am Fri 28 Mar 08
I would have thought that anyone would be preferable to the bungling factory owner.
Posted by: DJI, Berkshire on 10:58am Fri 28 Mar 08
These two should stay away and release their shares to allow an investor to come in.
My view of Lowe is he is a pompous idiot with poor man management skills and a superiority complex. Saints fans are his customer, but we are considered 'cannon fodder' to him so I am suprised so many of you think he is great?!
Wilde did not deliver so why expect him deliver anything a second time around.
These two are only interested in the value of the share price giving them a tidy sum.
Crouch should be given a bit of time, but I do think he should stay out of the media on this one. That said, he is Chairman of the FC, not the PLC so should not be speaking about these matters in his capacity of FC Chairman.
Clearly something is wrong inside the Club that keeps deterring major investment or take over, when other clubs can attract very rich people to them? Maybe the PLC and the share holdings are causing the problem, maybe it is the asset value? For sure, as long as the problem exists, Saints are not being considered a 'good buy'.
I would also like to understand why a potential investment has moved to "6 to 9 months" when in December it was 2 or 3 months away? What happened to change this; I suspect our League form after Xmas did not help us?
Posted by: femail on 12:27pm Fri 28 Mar 08
i say after seeing sport relief apprentice and the apprentice,
programs.perhaps this is part of our problem. the girls appear to get stuck in and sort the job in had.
Posted by: femail, soton on 12:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
femail wrote:
i say after seeing sport relief apprentice and the apprentice, programs.perhaps this is part of our problem. the girls appear to get stuck in and sort the job in had.
the men did nothing but bicker and waste time while the girls knuckled down and sorted what needed to be done
Posted by: princey boy, Bitterne on 1:55pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Ken Kerchaval wrote:
No club in the world would re-employ a manager who had previously relegated that team by mis-management. We've re-employed McMenemy haven't we? He got us relegated in 1974, or was that the then Chairman?
Do your homework Ken Kerchaval.
Lawrie McMenemy MBE,was not guilty of mismanagement at all, quite the reverse infact.
The team in 1974 was managed by Ted Bates,Lawrie did not take that team over until X-MAS 73.
Once he brought his OWN players in and managed the club his way, as they say the rest is history.
Within two years not only did Lawrie McMenemy MBE win the FA-Cup he also got us promoted to top flight football.
Until some cherry-faced pig farmer undone all the good done by McMenemy by blatant MISMANAGEMENT, hence the reason wht SFC are in the position they are in now.
Keep up the good work Lawrie, its appreciate by all those who actually realise a football is round.
Posted by: Russell, NZ on 9:09pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Perhaps the only thing sadder than this unbelievable ongoing shambles that disguises itself as a "Football Club", is the fact that there are people who *actually believe* that Lowe is going to be a positive influence on the club at this time.

His timing and approach to the team at this time has been underhand and without dignity. We forget so easily the lack of respect he has for Saints supporters and his overzealous drive to appease his pocket first, shareholders second (the team and supporters are much lower down the list).

Shame on you 'Saints Fans' who think this will send the club in the right direction. Lowe was responsible for meddling in team affairs, purchases and sales, brought in a Director of Football from another sport that undermined the club, brought in the crook R*dknapp and happily took us down keeping our profile high and engineering the spike in shares that is today the reason why people cannot invest and take over the club - because it's price is as inflated as his ego.
Posted by: Sarah Stallard, Curdridge on 8:44am Mon 31 Mar 08
I think that Lowe and Wilde comming back may be a blessing in disguise, at least with Lowe we never went into administration yet, this has been very much talked about with the current board!!!! if Lowe is prepared to put his own money in the club it shows hes commited!!!
Posted by: Paul Hallam, winchester on 8:34pm Mon 31 Mar 08
Rupert Lowe must not return. He has caused the situation by selling the best players
Posted by: STEPHEN TIBBLES, totton on 11:30am Wed 2 Apr 08
Why o Why have the two people who have been instrumental in bring OUR club to the brink of ANOTHER relegation come out of the woodwork at a time when ALL TRUE FANS should be uniting to turn around this diastrous situation. I can only think that they are worried that they will lose their investments, and as their egos are as large as the debt we are in,they think that they are about to turn around the season by saying that they are the only people that really care for the club. TOTAL RUBBISH!!!.
If they were TRUE FANS they would of waited until the season had finished until they moved to takeover. Why aren,t they supporting the club players and manager at the time we need EVERYONE TO GIVE 100% SUPPORT on and off the pitch??
PLEASE PLEASE GO BACK INTO YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLDS MR LOWE & WILDE
Posted by: bob longland, southampton on 10:21pm Sat 12 Apr 08
AS LONG AS WERE A P.L.C. WE WILL BE IN THE BROWN STUFF!. SOUTHAMPTON LEISURE HOLDINGS ARE ALREADY THERE. HENCE RUPERT WANTS BACK IN TO SELL WHAT'S LEFT TO SHORE UP S.L.H. PLC AND A FOOTBALL CLUB DONT MIX, ASK SIR ALEX FURGESON.
Posted by: true saint, southampton on 11:44pm Sat 12 Apr 08
to be true i dont care who brings the money in to the club . but we need some quick and if lowe is the person to do that then so be it .maybe where he has left he might have grown a brain or grown some money trees.
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