Channon's Sideburns

Ditto. After Woodford came Askham. I have no need to elaborate further. The little sh1t.

Well that's the 90% of the fanbase covered then...

Looks like they're no longer the 'right individuals to implement a long-term strategy' does it?

Yes No Yes (but only in terms of fans unity behind the cause) No

...ah yes, but only between office hours.

Bet the Rupey Troops are waiting for their instructions on how to respond as we speak.... I predict 9.01am tomorrow morning... I'm so glad my 1,000th post was that 'mini-manifesto'

Over the past twentytwo months Southampton FC has suffered a decline of major proportions brought about, in part, by a failure to achieve promotion to the Premiership and the loss of vital parachute payments. This has resulted in a catastrophic decline in income, the effects of which have been compounded by poor leadership and weak management over the entirety of this period with the result that the Club is now facing a relegation battle at the bottom of The Championship, the outcome of which is far from certain. Shortsighted policies have replaced long term planning and it is now time to reintroduce commonsense, leadership and clarity to the decision making process if a crisis has any chance of being averted. The need to do so is most dramatically demonstrated by the recent settlement with Arsenal FC, accepting £2.1million instead of a potential £5million outstanding from the sale of Theo Walcott in January 2006. The Club has also, over this period:- 1. Failed to properly manage and support George Burley; 2. Allowed an unsustainable player wage bill to develop as evidenced by half year results which were released today; 3. Lost key staff from the Academy; 4. Sold key Academy players to cover structural financial deficits; 5. Dropped to the lowest League position for many years; 6. Seen supporter gates drop dramatically; 7. Cashed in future income streams from player sales i.e. Theo Walcott deal with Arsenal; 8. Failed to communicate with supporters; 9. Mismanaged the Dyer/Wright-Phillips situation; After extensive consultation between Michael Wilde, Rupert Lowe and Andrew Cowen, who represent between them around 42% of the shareholders, it has been agreed that they should return to the Club to build on the foundations laid when the new stadium was financed and constructed and the Academy founded some ten years ago. Under the present leadership, the Academy is no longer given the emphasis it deserves and has, during the recent past, lost key staff such as Georges Prost, Malcolm Elias and Rod Ruddick. It is time for long term planning to replace short-termism, which, if left unchecked, will lead to financial disaster. It is for note that a total of over £40 million worth of players have been sold from the Academy without which the Club would not currently be financially viable. The new SLH Board will be Rupert Lowe (Chairman), Michael Wilde, Andrew Cowen and David Jones, with Michael Wilde returning as Chairman of the Football Club. Rupert Lowe said: "I spent ten years securing the finance for the stadium and building it with the assistance of Andrew Cowen. "It was delivered on time and on budget whilst the academy project was planned and executed to give the Club long term financial security. "I have grown to love Southampton Football Club and stepped down in June 2006 because I believed it was in the best interests of the Club. "A very unpleasant, unfair and dishonest smear campaign had divided the Club following relegation under Harry Redknapp's management. Those who were at the centre of this campaign did so for their own selfish reasons and not in the Club's best interests. "However, I bear no grudges, and although Michael and I have had disagreements in the past, we are now united in our wish to plan a long-term, honest and secure future for Southampton Football Club and the community it serves." Michael Wilde said: "There is no doubt that the last two years have seen major upheaval within the Club brought about, in the main, by the realities of relegation. "However, it is no longer appropriate for us to dwell on the past and we must unite to rescue the Club from further decline and to provide a strong basis for its resurrection. "In the absence of major third party investment it has become incumbent on us as major shareholders and custodians of the Club, to take responsibility for current problems and to do everything in our power to stabilise and take forward this great Club. "There is no doubt that I feel let down and disappointed by the performance of a number of people that I was instrumental in bringing into the Club some 18 months ago. "I am prepared to take responsibility for this by working with both Rupert and Andrew to arrest the Club's current deterioration and to achieve what I have always sought - the long-term stability and security of the Club. "This will involve many tough and, potentially, unpopular decisions over the coming months, but Rupert, Andrew and I have the resolve and commitment to do whatever is necessary to protect the longterm future of Southampton Football Club." --- I LOVE POINTS 5 & 6 - HOW HAVE YOU DONE ON THOSE THEN BOYS??? BTW, STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO DISCLOSE THE 'MISMANAGEMENT OF GEORGE BURLEY'

Jonah..whatever anyone's beliefs on who should be running this club, only someone with less than 1% love for this club could have failed to be moved by the scenes after the final whistle. It reminded me of the days at The Dell on the last day of the season - remember once Ruddock just managed to get out alive holding one boot above his head - must have been 89/90..the season when he scored the pen against Newcastle. Do you remember that? UNITY

But surely in the Directors Box they get to sit where they like? Or do they have to do certain things to make their way to the front like Rupes??? Do you know him or something JM?

Let's hope that there are not NDA's involved...and they get the chance to put their side across...

Christ Jonah you must be dizzy with all that spinning. Carry on...you're not making Lowe look any better. Such blind support is to be congratulated, but what do you think about Lord Lowe implementing the closing of corners that was already proposed by Crouch? Or the continued support of the Bank and NU? Or has that all only been achieved since May? At the AGM, Cowen obviously had prepared in advance..Richards was clearly reading from a script and from the look on his face he wasn't familiar with the content. Get over it, Leon is a more successful businessman than Rupert will ever be...if anything, this is A CLASS ISSUE - Leon has achieved more from a working class background and that grates with Rupey Baby....doesn't it?????? Or is it that Leon managed to bring the fans as one unit in his short period in charge (I guess that you weren't on the pitch at the Sheff Utd game celebrating with the rest of us) - and all Rupert can manage is to split the fans???? Oh BTW, before you start the only link between me and Leon is that we both originate from Lymington.

Well he has to stick his head out from the parapet at some point...he might as well explain his thoughts now... Or wait for Admin....or Relegation...

I wonder... Having spent shedloads in achieving the 16% shareholding in SLH to uproot Rupey Baby, then being uprooted by his own executives (apparently)...and then coming back again with Rupey Baby in a 'Roland Rat and Kevin the Gerbil' double act... Michael, tell me, 'Was it really all worth the effort'? What have you achieved? You paid out all that money to get Rupert out of this club...only to let him back in. --- One other observation, has anyone else noticed that amongst even the Lowe Support not even they have any good words to say about Wilde??? --- How does that make you feel then Mike? Does it make you want to 'Go Wilde' again.? Go on, flex your 16%.

Convenient memory loss for you there Jonah. If you re-read your own post earlier you claimed in response to Duncan along the lines of that 'you cannot recall Lowe ever giving the existing board any stick at the AGM' Of course Lowe sent Cowen and Richards to do the questioning for him. I was sat at that AGM on the next row of seating to those two jokers and their questions were all written down for them to read from. You not that naive are you? I bet you love horse racing...they have blinkers on as well.

Blackadder goes forth springs to mind...and guess who is Baldrick.

Who was it that once said 'Believe it or not, goals change a game' Our problem is that besides Saga, we can't bloody score.

Thanks Stevo.. I've already put as much money as I can into this club..has Rupert?? If you take into account ticket purchases, spend in the club shop, matchball sponsorship and spend during games over 29 years it would add up to a lot. Like others I would put the money up if I had it to bring someone else in - if I had the money tomorrow, I'd do it on the proviso that Lowe and Wilde walked. It is much better to offer something constructive towards our current situation rather than watch it crash and burn. Bringing in a manager of Reid's experience would be a positive, even if it was short term a la Pearson to secure our survival. With Wotte we have fook all chance of surviving....

Jonah, you convieniently forgot about the barracking of Crouch's board at the 2007 AGM by Mike Richards and Andrew Cowen then???? The best bullies always try to get someone else to do it for them don't they???

I think that as Mr Lowe is such an astute businessman that he will hold true to his mantra of 'doing what is best for the football club' by leaving forthwith. I also feel that Mr Wilde will acknowledge and concede that he cannot possibly dedicate enough time to his position given his physical location for most of the year. Therefore I am sure that both men will act in an honourable manner and fook right off.

Agreed...what is now different between this year and last year was that we had some HOPE. Also, that little bit of quality in front of goal. THAT'S why it seems so hopeless now - McGoldrick can't hit the ar$e end of a banjo and no-one seems bothered enough to notice. Euell and Saga up front for me...can't be any ******* worse. Yes I know that Euell blared one over the bar at the weekend, but he at least looks like he gives a toss.

ESB, you forgot Narcissistic Personality as well ...

Lowe's position it seems though has been based on the supposed 'wealth' of others - Askham, Richards, Windsor-Clive, Withers, Wilde... The fact that he is supposedly this high powered city type seems a bit of a red herring - admittedly he may be academically superior to some of his 'backers' - after all why invest directly if you can get the power without it??? I think the idiots in the equation are Askham, Wilde et al...