LEON Crouch has told the Daily Echo why he was forced to call crisis talks with Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde.

The former Saints football board chairman and PLC board director was forced out of St Mary’s last May when Wilde staged a U-turn and sided with Lowe to return both of them to power.

Crouch has had an ongoing dialogue with them since October, but the 2-1 home loss to Doncaster forced him to call a meeting between the three largest individual Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC shareholders.

“I put my proposals to them but they obviously didn’t accept them because they went and put Mark Wotte in charge," said Crouch.

“Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde have made their decision, now they have to live with it.

“Now we have to get behind the new manager, we have to give him a chance.

“I don’t want to be accused of upsetting the applecart.

“I put forward my proposals in the best interests of the football club.

“I’m a passionate fan and I just wanted to put my money where my mouth is.

“I want the club to survive and prosper.

“I thought mine was a good proposal – it would have enabled us to get rid of our overdraft and give ourselves a fighting chance of bringing in some experienced players and an experienced English manager.

“I thought the time was right to act.

“The three of us are the top three shareholders – we should all be putting our money in.”

Crouch added: “I agree with Frannie Benali (speaking in yesterday’s Daily Echo) when he said he would have liked to have seen a fresh face from outside the club brought in.

“I also agree with Matt Le Tissier (also in yesterday’s Echo) when he said the fans have got to unite behind the new manager.

“I have nothing against Mr Wotte, just like I had nothing against Mr Poortvliet personally.

“Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde are the two chairmen of the club. If they do not put any money in it does not say a lot about them.

“Saying I could come back in if I raised the £6m myself was a cop out. It was a flippant remark.”

Crouch, however, did say he would be prepared to discuss the prospect of forming a consortium with fellow businessmen or fans.

“If there’s anyone out there with some money, of course I’d talk with them,” he said.

“But I have sat through enough meetings with people who haven’t backed up their talk with money.

“Are there any local business people out there who would like to invest in the club knowing full well they might never get their money back?”