Fitzhugh Fella

BBB I don't quite understand what you are saying here but I am guessing you find my criticism of Steve heretical? To be frank I find quite a lot of whats going on at my club sad these days and the fact that even normally friendly fans are falling out pretty sad as well. However when Lowe returned I did say that would happen.

You base your decision on Crouch despite him being in the hot seat for a mere 6 months compared to Lowe's 10 years plus? Hardly fair Ron. "Whats wrong with that"? Well the trouble is - there is simply no one else for you and Steve to nail your colours to....... which means in reality (that is what Steve is not getting) we have to make our unpalatable choice on one out of the 3. Saying you want them all gone is just p*ssing against the wind and a'int going to happen for a good while.

Steve, I used to read your posts because I thought they were well-balanced and neutral and who is neutral these days? When you earlier criticised Pearson because under him we finished below 13th (the position when he took over) I lost some respect for you. You know darn well he took over a club in serial decline and in the end did well to keep us up and yet you use a cheap and biased statistic. You have (perhaps unintentionally) fallen off the fence today, but at least we know what side you chose to fall - what took you so long? No problems because most on here have long declared their allegiances one way or the other (can't still work out FC mind you) and now, I think you have. Perhaps it was even a sub-conscious moment.

Having being invited to attend an AGM pre meet* with all the people you are criticising Steve, I have to say you are - for once 100% wrong. Yes there was anti Lowe sentiments expressed but there was also a real larger concern at the plight of our club. Remember these people are all fans too, who go to matches whether or not they are current or ex board members. (Lowe, I seem to remember was an infrequent visitor). * present along with myself, Ian Gordon, Brian Hunt, Lawrie and Anne McMenemy, Patrick Trant, Mary Corbett, Mark Dennis and a few others. At that pre-AGM meeting there was no talk of walk outs or not voting whatsoever, you are very wrong to suggest it, - in fact Leon handed out a briefing sheet (which I have) with lots of questions on it of a footballing nature as well as financial, and the intention was to stay to the end. Lowe however set the tone with the letter reading and his subsequent pompous attitude. For me the last straw was the facetious answer he made to Mrs McMenemy which was uncalled for. Much as I am not LM's biggest fan I am sure he would not have treated Mrs Lowe with such contempt. Steve, it is obvious you have no time for Crouch and yes he has made mistakes for which he should take blames (siding with Wilde, bad PR and Dodd/Gorman) but you seem content to apportion as much blame on him as you do Lowe, which considering how much time each man has been in real power at the club is disingenious and imo unfair. I usually respect your opinion but this time I sincerely believe your opinion to be very wrong and dare I say it based on ignorance. Finally you talk about Crouch losing his temper - yes he did get angry but Lowe's behaviour/language to hundreds of people who have ever opposed him is a helluva lot worse. You have - fairly - accused me of being too pro-Crouch in the past but today you have shown your true colours and I am disappointed to say the least. Regards Duncan

Tim - did you ever hear that Bob Newhart sketch when he impersonated Walter Raleigh's imaginary agent trying to recall him from the States, arguing that Raleigh's latest discovery - tobacco - would never catch on. The telephone conversation script sort of goes "Walt? - yeah Hi, look fella, we've been kinda worried about you since you threw your cape in that puddle and now you are trying to convince us that rolling up a load of dried leaves, setting fire to them and then sticking them in your mouth is going to be a winner?" No offence mate - have a good holiday (the guy is a true legend), enjoy the inauguration as well (another legend in the making?) My missus is in Colorado at the moment and will no doubt be watching. Peace and love - although there aint much of that around SMS at present. D

as it was right at the end of the match thread many might have missed this post from New Zealand Saint (part reproduced below) - I would certainly like to know more - Also my dad has his own IT business stateside and him and a few of his mates (who also own companies in the states, not mega big ones, but big enough to be comofortable) approached Mr. Lowe and the Saints board about buying the club (the would have had enough money to whipe out the debts and give us a bit of spending money (not alot) and Mr. Lowe's exact words to my dad were "I'm not prepared to sell my shares in this club as Mr. Wilde and I are the ones to take us forward and we're making good progress"

Hi BBB, No I can't. Let's just wait and see what this person comes up with - he has given the matter a lot of thought and effort. If its unworkable so be it but I do feel slightly less helpless knowing someone is actually doing something other than fishing for salmon or beating each other up.

Thanks for the vote but unfortunately I could only reasonably speak for me. There are people out there - and on this forum - who think I talk blinkered anti-Lowe hogwash. And fair enough, I could perfectly understand that they wouldn't want my views to be considered representative. I think Steve made a valid point re NI being amenable and the chair of the Trust but I do think now that NI's opinions to be representative of a minority rather than majority.

Interesting analysis of why the Trust did not work, Steve. Were there other reasons and do you know the current status or position of the Trust? Is it now just NI's mouthpiece or something more? Its presence imo now is a hindrance just at a time where it is needed the most.

I don't want to blow this up into something big. This person is a local businessman who wants to organise fans into a situation wherby they can make a difference. No more no less. He certainly cannot afford to mount anything like a takeover nor does he know anyone who can but he is prepared to spend some of his hard earned cash and time to perhaps, just perhaps find a way to deliver the club from its present hamstrung predicament. It probably will fail because it will need many hands and as we have seen with the Trust it seems most fans initiatives inevitably founder but imo anything is worth giving it a go.

Frank I don't want to escalate this - of course your opinion is welcome and legitimate, its just that there are times your posts do tend to lecture, sermonise or whatever the correct word is. I am sure we all do it to a degree because it is a way of persuading others to come round to our viewpoints but if you could read your some of your posts as an outsider you would probably see what I am saying. You have no idea of Crouch's precise motives in offering the £2m and yet you are prepared to criticise from what appears to be your chosen moral highground.

Ah ha from your last sentences - seems like you are already getting ready to write this bloke and his ideas off already. This guy is not mounting a takeover ffs just coming up with an idea that regains control of our club, lets wait and see what he has to offer before criticising him.

Yes loads of problems no doubt about that, but at least someone is trying to do something which gets my vote.

Hi Richard - I have since heard he does still live in Otterbourne but does spend quite a few days being looked after elsewhere to give his family some respite. I do not know his wife or family but I know someone who does and I have asked if she is happy for me to pass on more details of his condition and if there is anything us fans can do, in the meantime. I am awaiting an answer later this week.

Ron, I happen to know someone who is working behind the scenes to organise something very akin to your outline above. But like someone has said, it takes time and money which I know he is prepared to put in. When he launches his plan it will be up to all of us to help as much as we can. Work on the website etc etc is being done as we speak/shout.

Then shouldn't you save your criticism for the two men who are not willing to put in two million and not at the one who is.

So Frank what you are saying it is now all Crouch's fault because Lowe and Wilde won't put money on. It is this myopic irrational defence of Lowe that frustrates people on here and it appears at SMS on Saturday. Jeez mate. Crouch offers two million on condition Wilde and Lowe do too. Sounds fair to me. Wilde and Lowe won't or can't and FC then slags off Crouch. You could not make it up. No wonder fans are at each other's throats.

But Crouch is the only one who has come forward with any offer of any extra finance (even if it has come with strings). To discard him now will be akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Steve - I understand your point but I do believe Crouch has made the offer he has in writing to the Board.

I meant Salz OK he can't stand Lowe and refuses to "get involved" - apparently - while Lowe is at the helm but that sort of attitude does not help shift things along. He has influence, contacts and is well respected but they are not being used to help the club in its hour of need. And Steve is right about Gavyn Davies - there has been a lot of talk about his love of Saints but we have yet to see any action. It is now these sort of people should get into gear but perhaps they don't want to climb aboard a sinking ship.

Absolutely. Salz has let it be known though that he will have nothing to do with SFC while Lowe is in charge. Personally I do not think he is showing much of an aptitude, and I am starting to think if you can't be bothered to get stuck in now when we need you why don't you "foxtrot oscar". But there again its late and it has been a long weekend to be a Saints fan.

Absolutely. Salz has let it be known though that he will have nothing to do with SFC while Lowe is in charge. Personally I do not think he is showing much of an aptitude, and I am starting to think if you can't be bothered to get stuck in now when we need you why don't you "foxtrot oscar". But there again its late and it has been a long weekend to be a Saints fan.

Ron, thanks for attempting a reasoned, sensible reply. However we have now passed the rubicon for rationality, it is too late. And we do not have time. Sometimes pitchforks speak louder than "approachs", "reviews" or "setting out plans" as the French Revolution proved. Yes mob rule never works but just occasionally a bit of blood and thunder prods minds in the better direction. Of course I am speaking as an old fashioned totally out of date/touch trade unionist.