FORMER chairman Leon Crouch has refused to comment on whether he would make a return to power at Saints if administration becomes a reality.

Shares in the club were suspended this morning and the parent company, Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC, is thought to be close to calling in administrators.

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If that happens, the first job would be to try to rescue the business, potentially by selling assets and trying to renegotiate with creditors how much debt would be paid back for an early settlement.

They would also look to find new owners that could take the business forward.

When contacted by the Daily Echo this morning, Crouch, the second largest individual shareholder, refused to be drawn on whether he would be interested.

“I think at the present time I wouldn’t want to make any comment,” he said.

“It really needs to unravel, what’s actually happening.”