Lowe - one of the UK's worst ever chairmen?

[SaintRobbie]

There are awlays issues in any deals where something happens or it doesn't. The important thing is that it happens. It happened when Lowe was here therefore he should take credit, just as he should take responsibility in his last year here.

 

As much as it suits the agenda to pretend that nothing worthwhile happened during his time here, that just isn't the case and makes the debate pointless. It is called balance.

 

It happens that Lowe was there as the leader of the plc/Club for the whole of it's gradual demise from Premier League to bottom of League 1. He may have taken a year off, but he certainly finished the job before Barclays pulled the rug.

[SaintRobbie]

And football isn't a business? Anyway, I won't spoil your morning Robbie, I know how much you love a session of Chairman bashing!!!

 

I rather like our Chairman. Sensible owner, excellent long term strategy, good manager. Ahhhh , smell the fresh air!

[St. Jason]

What difference does it make, it happened and that is the only thing that matters.

 

No mate, we had a ground ready to go only to loose it because of Lowes greed!

 

Southampton City Council stepped in, without them we'd still be at the Dell, we are where we are because of SCC in spite of Lowe!

[St. Jason]

There are awlays issues in any deals where something happens or it doesn't. The important thing is that it happens. It happened when Lowe was here therefore he should take credit, just as he should take responsibility in his last year here.

 

As much as it suits the agenda to pretend that nothing worthwhile happened during his time here, that just isn't the case and makes the debate pointless. It is called balance.

 

SOG you are right of course you are right, Lowe was Chairman he should be, to an extent accredited for SMS, but you should also take into consideration why we were moving to SMS and not Stoneham anyway, and also credit Southampton City Council for their massive part played!

[sadoldgit]

SOG you are right of course you are right, Lowe was Chairman he should be, to an extent accredited for SMS, but you should also take into consideration why we were moving to SMS and not Stoneham anyway, and also credit Southampton City Council for their massive part played!

 

No doubt, but it happened and someone has to drive these things forward and make them work. Threads like these are a bit pointles though now aren't they? We all have our own opinions and no one is going to change their mind.

 

Isn't it better to let the past be and deal with the now and the possible future?

 

I don't get this constant picking at scabs? What was was. We can't change anything. Under the new regime there will be good and bad too (already we had people complain about the relative lack of spending and about the choice of manager).

 

I just hope that debates in the future will be balanced and that we don't regress to the old witch hunting style.

 

I have been reading about Henry V111 recently, consider by many of a "great" man who laid the foundations of moder Britain. He also butched thousands of his own people and lopped the heads off of hundreds of people who were close to him. Not a very nice man at all.

 

I am afraid that many people who rise to the tops of the various professions are not very nice and upset people with their decisions. SFC is not immune to that and to carry on bleating about it is a bit silly really.

 

We are better off than many clubs of similar size. I have mates who support Crystal Palace who have nothing like the memories that I have to look back over, many of which came from Lowe's time here. And for that reason I am not going to join the Lowe Hate-In.

[sadoldgit]

No mate, we had a ground ready to go only to loose it because of Lowes greed!

 

Southampton City Council stepped in, without them we'd still be at the Dell, we are where we are because of SCC in spite of Lowe!

 

Lowe's greed or a better financial set up for SFC? It wasn't as if we didn't need more revenue streams was it? Are you unhappy with SMS? To me it is a fantastic stadium and the people who worked on delivereing should be commended. I think you will find that many original plans end up changing for any number of reasons. We could have stayed at The Dell and would have been financially stuffed years earlier.

[St. Jason]

No doubt, but it happened and someone has to drive these things forward and make them work. Threads like these are a bit pointles though now aren't they? We all have our own opinions and no one is going to change their mind.

 

Isn't it better to let the past be and deal with the now and the possible future?

 

I don't get this constant picking at scabs? What was was. We can't change anything. Under the new regime there will be good and bad too (already we had people complain about the relative lack of spending and about the choice of manager).

 

I just hope that debates in the future will be balanced and that we don't regress to the old witch hunting style.

 

I have been reading about Henry V111 recently, consider by many of a "great" man who laid the foundations of moder Britain. He also butched thousands of his own people and lopped the heads off of hundreds of people who were close to him. Not a very nice man at all.

 

I am afraid that many people who rise to the tops of the various professions are not very nice and upset people with their decisions. SFC is not immune to that and to carry on bleating about it is a bit silly really.

 

We are better off than many clubs of similar size. I have mates who support Crystal Palace who have nothing like the memories that I have to look back over, many of which came from Lowe's time here. And for that reason I am not going to join the Lowe Hate-In.

 

Fair comments there mate, I too have some of my best memories of SFC under Lowe's tenure but, as you regularly say you need to be balanced in your view. So in balance I loved the FA cup run, loved Bucharest and love St. Mary's but, I hated the manager revolving door, the stupid experiment with SCW & Clifford when we could least afford it, hated constantly being dismissed as a customer (what other plc chairman would call his loyal customers 'the lunatic fringe'. So in balance I am not a Lowe fan, I do however agree with you that's the past and for once in a long long time i'm positive about our club. I'm enjoying the football, excited about the next home game, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

 

The future is bright, the future is red & white ;-)

[aintforever]

You can't take away the fact that Lowe got SMS built, he deserves credit for that. But during the last decade or so virtually every club in the land has either built a new ground or transformed their existing ground - it's not exactly a great achievement, it's just the result of Sky TV's millions and the Tailor report.

 

The single most important fact is that Lowe took over an established well run premier League club and left it bottom the 3rd division, in administration - AND he didn't even do that right.

[St. Jason]

Lowe's greed or a better financial set up for SFC? It wasn't as if we didn't need more revenue streams was it? Are you unhappy with SMS? To me it is a fantastic stadium and the people who worked on delivereing should be commended. I think you will find that many original plans end up changing for any number of reasons. We could have stayed at The Dell and would have been financially stuffed years earlier.

 

Lowe's greed my friend, the deal was signed and sealed until Lowe the changed the business plan. Eastliegh had agreed the stadium as long as there was no retail or leisure which would encroach on Eastliegh Town's fragile economy, then Lowe wanted a cinema and retail outlets, the whole plan changed!

 

But as you say, lets move on, lets enjoy the football, enjoy the silence from the boardroom, enjoy that Saturdays are no longer centred on politics and SFC are now our only focus!

 

Also, yes, I am more than happy with SMS, I love the ground and I love that it is still in Southampton City, but as I've said before, I believe that SMS is because of SCC not because of Lowe. So by a strange quirk of fate because of Lowe's greed we lost Stoneham and gained SMS, which I'm happy with!

[sadoldgit]

Lowe's greed my friend, the deal was signed and sealed until Lowe the changed the business plan. Eastliegh had agreed the stadium as long as there was no retail or leisure which would encroach on Eastliegh Town's fragile economy, then Lowe wanted a cinema and retail outlets, the whole plan changed!

 

But as you say, lets move on, lets enjoy the football, enjoy the silence from the boardroom, enjoy that Saturdays are no longer centred on politics and SFC are now our only focus!

 

Also, yes, I am more than happy with SMS, I love the ground and I love that it is still in Southampton City, but as I've said before, I believe that SMS is because of SCC not because of Lowe. So by a strange quirk of fate because of Lowe's greed we lost Stoneham and gained SMS, which I'm happy with!

 

This is what I don't understand. Was the revenue from these other business venures going to go into Lowe's pocket or would they go to support SFC? Lowe and CEOs like him do not have a brand like Man Utd therefore have to try and bring in cash from other sources if they can surely? And if you are happy with SMS then surely, by extension, you are happy with the people who delivered it, by whatever route it happened to arrive for us?

[sadoldgit]

Fair comments there mate, I too have some of my best memories of SFC under Lowe's tenure but, as you regularly say you need to be balanced in your view. So in balance I loved the FA cup run, loved Bucharest and love St. Mary's but, I hated the manager revolving door, the stupid experiment with SCW & Clifford when we could least afford it, hated constantly being dismissed as a customer (what other plc chairman would call his loyal customers 'the lunatic fringe'. So in balance I am not a Lowe fan, I do however agree with you that's the past and for once in a long long time i'm positive about our club. I'm enjoying the football, excited about the next home game, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

 

The future is bright, the future is red & white ;-)

 

As you say, good and bad and I too was not happy about the constant changes at managerial level. I did however think that SCW would have added a new dimension to the club and regret that he was ditched by Wilde before he had a chance to show what he could do for us, still, all done now. For better or worse I believe that Lowe made decisions for the club based on financial prudence and in what thought were in the best interests of SFC, as the new owner will. All clubs of our size are faced with exactly the same problems and it is no different for the Norwich's and Charlton's of this world. The people running them make decisions but whilst money rules you can't afford to make too many wrong ones.

 

Lowe and the people who followed were all governed by financial constraints. Lowe's prudent approach finally failed but then the fans approach of taking a punt and spending money also failed big time as it turned out. Fortunately now we do not seem to have a financial straight jacket and with luck, a sustainable business plan that will take us forward.

 

Amen to that!!!

[St. Jason]

This is what I don't understand. Was the revenue from these other business venures going to go into Lowe's pocket or would they go to support SFC? Lowe and CEOs like him do not have a brand like Man Utd therefore have to try and bring in cash from other sources if they can surely? And if you are happy with SMS then surely, by extension, you are happy with the people who delivered it, by whatever route it happened to arrive for us?

 

As I've already stated on an earlier post, yes Lowe should be accredited praise for overseeing St. Mary's. He was the man at the top, he sold The Dell, he negotiated the financing and also over saw the move from The Dell to SMS, credit where credit's due, also criticism where that is due. So on balance, I feel there are many more negatives than positives associated with Mr. Lowe's tenure ship, many more!

[docker-p]

i have never EVER known or heard of a £30m pound building being built in SPITE of someone..

 

LOL

 

If the city council hadn't saved his ass after Lowe ****ed up Stoneham by adding shops and cinemas etc, which were never allowed in the outline planning permission, we would still be at the Dell today.

 

Thankfully attendances are up, despite dropping down a division, now the buffoon has gone.

[sadoldgit]

As I've already stated on an earlier post, yes Lowe should be accredited praise for overseeing St. Mary's. He was the man at the top, he sold The Dell, he negotiated the financing and also over saw the move from The Dell to SMS, credit where credit's due, also criticism where that is due. So on balance, I feel there are many more negatives than positives associated with Mr. Lowe's tenure ship, many more!

 

Fair do's, we could carry on this discussions for hours! At least now we seem to have a decent stable set up and apart from the fact that I would prefer we were still in the Premiership, there are many reasons to be optimistic about our future prospects.

[St. Jason]

As you say, good and bad and I too was not happy about the constant changes at managerial level. I did however think that SCW would have added a new dimension to the club and regret that he was ditched by Wilde before he had a chance to show what he could do for us, still, all done now. For better or worse I believe that Lowe made decisions for the club based on financial prudence and in what thought were in the best interests of SFC, as the new owner will. All clubs of our size are faced with exactly the same problems and it is no different for the Norwich's and Charlton's of this world. The people running them make decisions but whilst money rules you can't afford to make too many wrong ones.

 

Lowe and the people who followed were all governed by financial constraints. Lowe's prudent approach finally failed but then the fans approach of taking a punt and spending money also failed big time as it turned out. Fortunately now we do not seem to have a financial straight jacket and with luck, a sustainable business plan that will take us forward.

 

Amen to that!!!

 

I'm not for one minute suggesting there was any malice in Lowe's running of the club, Lowe's ultimate failure was his arrogance, he was right, all way's right, it didn't matter how wrong he was, he was right.

 

As for SCW, why hasn't another club taken him on if he's got so much to offer? Also after 6 years of owning and managing Gasforth Town, they are not as predicted by Simon Clifford yet in the Premiership!

 

Regardless of what anyone may think of SCW appointment for me it was the timing of said appointments. At a time when Lowe was slashing all the players wages due to the fact we'd been relegated he spends countless £m's and this vision, he should of been spending what money we had on a promotion push, that first year was our best chance of a return. If we'd managed that return then yes, by all means try new things, spend a bit of the sky fortune on a eye gym but not when relegated!

[St. Jason]

Fair do's, we could carry on this discussions for hours! At least now we seem to have a decent stable set up and apart from the fact that I would prefer we were still in the Premiership, there are many reasons to be optimistic about our future prospects.

 

Exactly correct mate, isn't it lovely to have a united fan base, everyone seems to be focused on the football, no in fighting, no songs about anything or anyone else except for SFC.

 

We'll still get different opinions ref managers, team selection, formations etc. but that's football isn't it? I thought Mellis had a great game against Gillingham yet the Echo marked him down............opinions!!!!!!

 

4 in row this afternoon............1-3 for the Super Saints...............fingers crossed!

[sadoldgit]

I'm not for one minute suggesting there was any malice in Lowe's running of the club, Lowe's ultimate failure was his arrogance, he was right, all way's right, it didn't matter how wrong he was, he was right.

 

As for SCW, why hasn't another club taken him on if he's got so much to offer? Also after 6 years of owning and managing Gasforth Town, they are not as predicted by Simon Clifford yet in the Premiership!

 

Regardless of what anyone may think of SCW appointment for me it was the timing of said appointments. At a time when Lowe was slashing all the players wages due to the fact we'd been relegated he spends countless £m's and this vision, he should of been spending what money we had on a promotion push, that first year was our best chance of a return. If we'd managed that return then yes, by all means try new things, spend a bit of the sky fortune on a eye gym but not when relegated!

 

I do see the logic though. We couldn't afford the best players therefore we had to get a few % more out of the ones we had. Why Woodward wasn't even allowed near the 1st eleven when we were struggling is beyond me but that was Redknapp's ego for you. I guess the reason he hasn't turned up at another club is because he turned to athletics. As for Clifford, no loss to us but he seems to have made an awful lot of money out of football.

 

We can have a view on Woodward's appointment but sadly will never know what he could have don for us as he was never given a chance to do what he is good at. Redknapp took us down as bottom team. If Woodward had been involved in some capacity we coul have done no worse!

[saint lard]

[Cabrone]

He's definately our worst ever chairman.

 

As far as I know relegating SFC down 2 divisions is a record that no other chairman has accomplished.

 

However he'd still have a way to go to match up with these meddling chairmen:

 

Flavio Briatore who often picked QPR teams and once ordered a substitution from Malaysia.

 

Vladimir Romanov who sacked George Burley after an 8 match winning run because he refused to obey Romanov's team selections faxed over every week from the Baltics.

 

Dmitry Pietrman (Racing Santander) who when told he would need to complete a six-year coaching course in order to manage the Spanish team he had just bought appointed old friend Chuchi Cos as manager and named himself as official club photographer.

 

Donning a snapper's bib, he would then sit on a chair adjacent to the Racing bench, take a few pictures and regularly shout orders to players.

 

When asked about this unusual state of affairs Pieterman referred to George W Bush saying:

 

"There's a dork out there running the most powerful country in the world without a qualification to his name. And you want me to have a diploma to run a football team?"

 

You couldn't make it up.

[St. Jason]

I do see the logic though. We couldn't afford the best players therefore we had to get a few % more out of the ones we had. Why Woodward wasn't even allowed near the 1st eleven when we were struggling is beyond me but that was Redknapp's ego for you. I guess the reason he hasn't turned up at another club is because he turned to athletics. As for Clifford, no loss to us but he seems to have made an awful lot of money out of football.

 

We can have a view on Woodward's appointment but sadly will never know what he could have don for us as he was never given a chance to do what he is good at. Redknapp took us down as bottom team. If Woodward had been involved in some capacity we coul have done no worse!

 

I don't agree that it was Redknapp's ego mate, its not the done thing is it? A manager lives and dies on his results, he appoints his coaches, he set's out training, he sorts the formation, tactics and he does the team talk, it doesn't work the other way round when your chairman starts appointing your staff. Look at Nott's county, Svenn comes in, macparland leaves, can you see Paul Hart lasting the season now Grant's there??

 

I'm not a Redkrapp fan, but I couldn't see any top flight experienced manager accepting boardroom meddling.

 

I think it also show's what sort of bloke SCW is by the fact he's now in athletics, hardly had the determination to succeed in football, one knock back and he's off!!!!!!!!!

[aintforever]

I

I think it also show's what sort of bloke SCW is by the fact he's now in athletics, hardly had the determination to succeed in football, one knock back and he's off!!!!!!!!!

 

Exactly, remember all that "football is my first love" rubbish he came out with.

 

Forget all the sports science spin and the numerous job titles, Lowe was just trying to fast-track him to be manager, everyone knew it, Redknapp and Clifford said as much.

 

If he really wanted to, and thought he could succeed in football he could easily have got a job managing at non league level and worked his way up like most other coaches have to.

[Tamesaint]

Sometimes it is difficult to spot a rose in a thorn-bush.

 

Maybe consider a topic less poisonous for your next foray into the realms of perversity.

 

With over 120 posts on this thread in less than 24 hours maybe you should consider what people want to write about before you make your next foray into the realms of slagging off the members of this forum ???

[Wes Tender]

evil monkey and scudamore for some reason have the dubious honour of making me genuinely laugh out loud the most often at some inspired comments. Trousers you are very close to overtaking their mantle.

 

Of course there are many posters who make me laugh and wes treating my posts as a piece of homework to be marked and tame's 'stockholm syndrome' stalking and mimicry (he'll be made up i've noticed his thread) are just many examples of posters who give me more of a disturbed chuckle and for all the wrong reasons.

 

I guess my only concern is that one the trio of top notch american sit-com writers masquerading as monkey, trousers and scudamore turns out to be mike osman. Imo it would be a bit like finding out mlt really did take le tiss.

 

5 Could do better

10

[Johnny Shearer]

Yep I'll agree with Lowe being Saints worst chairman but not worst chairman ever!

[SaintRobbie]

Thankfully attendances are up, despite dropping down a division, now the buffoon has gone.

 

Says it all that Docker, says it all.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

There are awlays issues in any deals where something happens or it doesn't. The important thing is that it happens. It happened when Lowe was here therefore he should take credit, just as he should take responsibility in his last year here.

 

As much as it suits the agenda to pretend that nothing worthwhile happened during his time here, that just isn't the case and makes the debate pointless. It is called balance.

 

Funnily enough I would not be over-critical of Lowe in his last year here Bern as he hands were pretty tied with the financial situation. He made mistakes yes (The Dutch duo and going into administration too late) but I don't think anyone would have survived with the overdraft as it was. Perhaps he should not have come back.

 

However Lowe's "bad" period was basically between the summer after our appearance at Cardiff up until he was removed by Wilde and Crouch, which spanned 3 years. In that time he failed to capitalise on the success enjoyed by Strachan, and then went on to appoint some unsuitable managers. He compounded matters by not seeing the writing on the wall (just a blip) until it was too late mainly because by then he arrogantly thought he was the only one who knew best. His awful pr referred to by Weston Saint was another nail in his coffin.

[Clifford Nelson]

Funnily enough I would not be over-critical of Lowe in his last year here Bern as he hands were pretty tied with the financial situation. He made mistakes yes (The Dutch duo and going into administration too late) but I don't think anyone would have survived with the overdraft as it was. Perhaps he should not have come back.

 

However Lowe's "bad" period was basically between the summer after our appearance at Cardiff up until he was removed by Wilde and Crouch, which spanned 3 years. In that time he failed to capitalise on the success enjoyed by Strachan, and then went on to appoint some unsuitable managers. He compounded matters by not seeing the writing on the wall (just a blip) until it was too late mainly because by then he arrogantly thought he was the only one who knew best. His awful pr referred to by Weston Saint was another nail in his coffin.

 

I haven't any rosy memories of life before Strachan either. The Dave Jones period, for instance was amazingly dour.

 

There is something which is referred to as "toxic people". Regardless what they might be doing right (coming to work in time; paying bills; getting a drinks contract for SMS; etc.) people around them feel bad, depressed, irritated, angry and/or miserable.

 

And then there are people who somehow excite or encourage their environment even when they are skint or not feeling well.

 

I know what type 'he who should remain nameless unless we name the bogs after him' is. That he also produced a mass of poor decisions didn't help.

[georgeg]

There was the bloke who sold the Goldstone Ground for Brighton. But imo RL would def be in top 10.

 

I would put rl in the top 1......... dont EVER come to Southampton again you arrogant pompous arse!!!!

[SaintRichmond]

I wouldn't go along with that. I'm no Rupert fan, but St Marys was built during his tenure. Credit where it is due. Now Guy Askham is another matter.

 

 

 

Agreed ... and he is NOT due any in respect of St Mary's. He did very little to a constructive debate, and very nearly scuppered THAT deal in the same way as he had done Stoneham:cool:

[70's Mike]

whilst i make no secret of my dis like of Lowe and what he did for the club, if it had not been for Guy the Snake we would have never been burden with Lowe

so imo, its is stand up Guy Askham the worst Chairman this club has ever had

[TheCholulaKid]

agree...not on just this though....anyone who dares to have a differing view against the grain about the team is called all sorts of names under the sun...

 

this place (because of these reasons) is slowly dying..

 

And then you call someone an idiot in the very same thread. Well done, you really know how to make yourself look very stupid.

[Alain Perrin]

Again some how we still blame the fans for Hoddle not coming back! Hoddle himself has publicly stated that he would of come back if he'd "had 100% support from the board" he knew, we knew that after a few wins fans anger would of subsided!!

 

Also why exactly do you feel it would of been oh so different had Hoddle come back, after all he didn't set the world on fire @ Spurs of Wolves did he??

 

No relegation clauses???? Are you sure mate!!!!!

 

The reason Hoddle didn't have 100% backing of the board was because some of them were nervous of the 'customer' reaction.

 

I don't think we needed Hoddle to set the world alight. Just be better than Wigley and save us from the drop (neither Spurs nor Wolves were relegated under his tenure).

 

Lowe did insert relegation clauses in contracts (like him or loathe him, he drove a hard bargain on transfers), it was Wilde and his cronies who signed players without them in. Meaning relegation to League 1 / loss of parachute payments were always going to drive us to the abyss.

[St. Jason]

The reason Hoddle didn't have 100% backing of the board was because some of them were nervous of the 'customer' reaction.

 

I don't think we needed Hoddle to set the world alight. Just be better than Wigley and save us from the drop (neither Spurs nor Wolves were relegated under his tenure).

 

Lowe did insert relegation clauses in contracts (like him or loathe him, he drove a hard bargain on transfers), it was Wilde and his cronies who signed players without them in. Meaning relegation to League 1 / loss of parachute payments were always going to drive us to the abyss.

 

I agree Hoddle would of been better than Wigley but why was either Hoddle or Wigley, surely there were other candidates?? Please don't forget it was Mr. Lowe himself that wound the fans up with all the 'North London yobo' statements, then when he changed his mind expected the fans to just forget everything that'd been said!

 

Why did Wildes signings with no relegation clauses lead us to relegation to League 1?? Even if Wilde had inserted relegation clauses into any contracts, said clauses would not of come into affect until this season anyway, by witch time we'd already been placed in admin and received our 10 point penalty as Lowe couldn't even go into Admin right! IMO we were relegated because of Mr' Lowe's stupid Dutch experiment!

[aintforever]

With the right manager we could have stayed up last season no problem, finances were tight but they were for a lot of clubs. If we looked like we were staying up Barclays would not have pulled the plug - they just looked at Lowe's mismanagement and had no other option.

 

Lowe has to be among the worst ever chairman, he made some crazy decisions.

 

Putting Steve Wigley in charge of a Prem team.

Appointing Gray after an awful period as caretaker.

Appointing a Rugby coach as director of football.

Sacking Nigel Pearson and hiring Jan Poortvleit.

Appointing Sturrock then sacking him 2 games into a season.

Undermining Redknapp with Simon Clifford.

 

Lowe's problem was his arrogance, when we got to Cardiff he thought he knew the lot when fact was we just had a lucky cup run, any team in the top two divisions could have done the same. He fell for the classic football sucker punch of believing his own hype and had the arrogance to think he could play russian roulette with the manager's job and get away with it - that ultimately is why we are where we are now.

[Wopper]

Lowe never had a clue how to run a succesful football club.

[Wes Tender]

Funnily enough I would not be over-critical of Lowe in his last year here Bern as he hands were pretty tied with the financial situation. He made mistakes yes (The Dutch duo and going into administration too late) but I don't think anyone would have survived with the overdraft as it was. Perhaps he should not have come back.

 

However Lowe's "bad" period was basically between the summer after our appearance at Cardiff up until he was removed by Wilde and Crouch, which spanned 3 years. In that time he failed to capitalise on the success enjoyed by Strachan, and then went on to appoint some unsuitable managers. He compounded matters by not seeing the writing on the wall (just a blip) until it was too late mainly because by then he arrogantly thought he was the only one who knew best. His awful pr referred to by Weston Saint was another nail in his coffin.

 

I find myself very surprised to have to contest your first line here, Duncan. I don't disagree with you saying that his hands were tied financially, but your comment that he made "mistakes" on his return is surely a massive understatement. It would be far more pertinent to say that he c*cked things up royally.

 

There was never any obligation to have appointed the double Dutch, or to have dismissed Pearson, or to have played just the youngsters. Had he kept Pearson (or appointed another manager with a track record of success at that level of the English game), the team would have been a balanced blend of youth and experience and the question of the ten point deduction and administration might never have arisen.

 

You believe that it was probable that nobody could have ensured our survival with the overdraft as it was, but my understanding was that an attendance of 17,000 was required at home matches to break even. Now, it could be that there were already too many stay away fans who detested Lowe and the Quisling to have reached that figure, but on the other hand, had the momentum that Pearson had instilled been allowed to continue, I am pretty confident that his ability to spot decent experienced players who could have done a job for us at a price we could afford, would have gained us the wins that would have increased the attendances to the level required to keep us afloat.

 

Of course, I'm sure that you are as happy as me and 99% of Saints fans that Lowe was so stupidly crass in his total idiocy, returning with the Quisling, dismissing Pearson and appointing the Dutch jokers and playing the kids, as ultimately the resultant administration ridded the club of them and all the other charlatans. Regrettably, the main downside was the 10 point deduction that could have been avoided and which is Lowe's legacy to us, Even then, I'd happily take that too if given the choice between those idiots remaining in charge of us in the Fizzy Pop, or having Markus Liebherr and Cortese in the third division.

[SaintRobbie]

He's definately our worst ever chairman.

 

As far as I know relegating SFC down 2 divisions is a record that no other chairman has accomplished.

 

However he'd still have a way to go to match up with these meddling chairmen:

 

Flavio Briatore who often picked QPR teams and once ordered a substitution from Malaysia.

 

Vladimir Romanov who sacked George Burley after an 8 match winning run because he refused to obey Romanov's team selections faxed over every week from the Baltics.

 

Dmitry Pietrman (Racing Santander) who when told he would need to complete a six-year coaching course in order to manage the Spanish team he had just bought appointed old friend Chuchi Cos as manager and named himself as official club photographer.

 

Donning a snapper's bib, he would then sit on a chair adjacent to the Racing bench, take a few pictures and regularly shout orders to players.

 

When asked about this unusual state of affairs Pieterman referred to George W Bush saying:

 

"There's a dork out there running the most powerful country in the world without a qualification to his name. And you want me to have a diploma to run a football team?"

 

You couldn't make it up.

 

You know - you say all that but then Lowe also interfered. At one stage he even suggested taking on the coaching role himself. What is more, Lowe also put in a Rugby Player as a manager in waiting, who did nothing more than waste money on an eye gym and cause division.

 

But, best of all, we forget that it was meddling Lowe who insisted on the Youth experiment. It was Lowe who brought in two clueless Dutch frauds and even accepted Simon Clifford on SCW's useless advice. Playing youth and sidelining experience (whilst still paying their wages) was purely Lowe's strategy, indeed as JP has told us since leaving it was Lowe's policy. He relegated us as a result.

 

When you then add the clumsy manner in which he tried to use the OS, Daily Mail and this forum to spin his daft ideas and promote his competence - all of which we laughed at - you can also see how deep he insisted on meddling.

 

I'd suggest that Lowe has meddled more than any of those you mention above - although I did enjoy reading that! Dmitry Pietrman has a point about Bush though!

Edited 18 October, 2009 by SaintRobbie

[SaintRobbie]

I find myself very surprised to have to contest your first line here, Duncan. I don't disagree with you saying that his hands were tied financially, but your comment that he made "mistakes" on his return is surely a massive understatement. It would be far more pertinent to say that he c*cked things up royally.

 

There was never any obligation to have appointed the double Dutch, or to have dismissed Pearson, or to have played just the youngsters. Had he kept Pearson (or appointed another manager with a track record of success at that level of the English game), the team would have been a balanced blend of youth and experience and the question of the ten point deduction and administration might never have arisen.

 

You believe that it was probable that nobody could have ensured our survival with the overdraft as it was, but my understanding was that an attendance of 17,000 was required at home matches to break even. Now, it could be that there were already too many stay away fans who detested Lowe and the Quisling to have reached that figure, but on the other hand, had the momentum that Pearson had instilled been allowed to continue, I am pretty confident that his ability to spot decent experienced players who could have done a job for us at a price we could afford, would have gained us the wins that would have increased the attendances to the level required to keep us afloat.

 

Of course, I'm sure that you are as happy as me and 99% of Saints fans that Lowe was so stupidly crass in his total idiocy, returning with the Quisling, dismissing Pearson and appointing the Dutch jokers and playing the kids, as ultimately the resultant administration ridded the club of them and all the other charlatans. Regrettably, the main downside was the 10 point deduction that could have been avoided and which is Lowe's legacy to us, Even then, I'd happily take that too if given the choice between those idiots remaining in charge of us in the Fizzy Pop, or having Markus Liebherr and Cortese in the third division.

 

Duncan - I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with Wes Tender here. It was Lowe who insisted on the youth playing policy and forced the sidelining of experienced players whilst paying their wages anyway. Also, how much money did he waste on Kim VdM? Financial hands tied... yes to a certain extent. But, pure incompetence in his decision making despite that.

 

Thank goodness for Barclays Bank.

[SaintRobbie]

whilst i make no secret of my dis like of Lowe and what he did for the club, if it had not been for Guy the Snake we would have never been burden with Lowe

so imo, its is stand up Guy Askham the worst Chairman this club has ever had

 

I see your logic here.

[Weston Saint]

Duncan - I have to say I wholeheartedly agree with Wes Tender here. It was Lowe who insisted on the youth playing policy and forced the sidelining of experienced players whilst paying their wages anyway. Also, how much money did he waste on Kim VdM? Financial hands tied... yes to a certain extent. But, pure incompetence in his decision making despite that.

 

Thank goodness for Barclays Bank.

From what I have been told we were as good as in Administration at the end of the season before Lowe took over. We could not afford the wages of Pearson or the high paid individuals let alone their appearance and win bonuses.

 

It was a last gasp effort to keep us afloat by sidelining them and going for the cheap Dutch alternative. Why not a cheap English alternative? Because Lowe & Wilde had already decided they wanted to rely on a continental style of total football.

 

They thought our young players (whose wages we could just afford) would take the division by storm.

 

Once they had made up their mind, despite reservations from many experienced football brains in and outside of the club, there was no turning back for Lowe. That was his mistake, the not trying for a blend of cheap experience and youth.

 

Would we have survived if he had worked it differently and listened to experience? Who knows but I have it on good authority that we were as good as gone before Lowe stepped back in and at that time he told others around him that it was an almost impossible task, financially. The damage had been done during the previous regime.

 

Would Lowe have kept us solvent in the Championship had he not been pushed out? Who knows but his past record on financial stability was good. We might have been an average Championship side for a long while due to the stadium debt.

 

Still, it has all worked out well in the end despite the severe pain in the meantime.

 

Time to look forward but let us not forget the past. There were a lot of mistakes and we must make sure they do not happen again.

[lumpofshipperley]

It happens that Lowe was there as the leader of the plc/Club for the whole of it's gradual demise from Premier League to bottom of League 1. He may have taken a year off, but he certainly finished the job before Barclays pulled the rug.

 

He was also here for Saint's greatest period since Lawrie McMenemy including an fa cup final defeat and a successful move into a brilliant new stadium.

 

In the last championship season, fans always say he should have budgeted for success, by paying for all the high earners. What they forget is that the season before we had all of those good players and just avoided relegation. Another season like that and we would have gone into administration about 4 months earlier than we did.

 

He did a lot right and as well as a lot wrong.

[aintforever]

From what I have been told we were as good as in Administration at the end of the season before Lowe took over. We could not afford the wages of Pearson or the high paid individuals let alone their appearance and win bonuses.

 

I don't buy that, money was obviously tight but we brought in plenty of players Wotton, Peckhart, Pulis, Forecast, Smith, Holmes, Robertson etc) and paid decent money for Schnerderlin. There was easily scope for a manager to build a side capable of staying up.

 

Forcing youngsters through, an inexperienced foreign manager, and trying to play total football = the perfect recipe for relegation.

[Fan The Flames]

From what I have been told we were as good as in Administration at the end of the season before Lowe took over. We could not afford the wages of Pearson or the high paid individuals let alone their appearance and win bonuses.

 

Still, it has all worked out well in the end despite the severe pain in the meantime.

 

Time to look forward but let us not forget the past. There were a lot of mistakes and we must make sure they do not happen again.

 

But that could be said for most football clubs, after all our debt was swamped by Man Utds, Arsenals, Liverpools. It's whether you can service that debt and when the creditors lost confidence in SFC was when Lowe was back in charge. Thank **** for that.

 

Still as you say its all about the future now.

[Fan The Flames]

He was also here for Saint's greatest period since Lawrie McMenemy including an fa cup final defeat and a successful move into a brilliant new stadium.

 

Lets not forget that the greatest period you speak of was a 7th finish and runners up in the FA cup. Also probably close to half the league clubs have moved to new/rebuilt grounds, so not so amazing.

[St. Jason]

From what I have been told we were as good as in Administration at the end of the season before Lowe took over. We could not afford the wages of Pearson or the high paid individuals let alone their appearance and win bonuses.

 

It was a last gasp effort to keep us afloat by sidelining them and going for the cheap Dutch alternative. Why not a cheap English alternative? Because Lowe & Wilde had already decided they wanted to rely on a continental style of total football.

 

They thought our young players (whose wages we could just afford) would take the division by storm.

 

Once they had made up their mind, despite reservations from many experienced football brains in and outside of the club, there was no turning back for Lowe. That was his mistake, the not trying for a blend of cheap experience and youth.

 

Would we have survived if he had worked it differently and listened to experience? Who knows but I have it on good authority that we were as good as gone before Lowe stepped back in and at that time he told others around him that it was an almost impossible task, financially. The damage had been done during the previous regime.

 

Would Lowe have kept us solvent in the Championship had he not been pushed out? Who knows but his past record on financial stability was good. We might have been an average Championship side for a long while due to the stadium debt.

 

Still, it has all worked out well in the end despite the severe pain in the meantime.

 

Time to look forward but let us not forget the past. There were a lot of mistakes and we must make sure they do not happen again.

 

What a load of total tripe.

 

The only thing I will agree with you is that it is all now in the past, and thankfully due to Lowe's mis-management (couldn't even go into Admin the right time) he is and will all ways be the past as with new owners, no shareholders there is now back for Lowe!!!

 

Weston Saint, if as you say we were already as good as in Admin when Lowe came why did he so royaly fook up by taking us into Admin only days after the cut of point meaning an automatic 10 point penalty?? Also if again as you say admin was inevitable was Lowe given permission to sign Scheriden, Pulis etc? I realise Schneriden could will work out to be a shrewd investment but why would Barclays allow a company on the brink of admin to spend £1m???

 

The future is bright, the future is red & white!!

[St. Jason]

He was also here for Saint's greatest period since Lawrie McMenemy including an fa cup final defeat and a successful move into a brilliant new stadium.

 

In the last championship season, fans always say he should have budgeted for success, by paying for all the high earners. What they forget is that the season before we had all of those good players and just avoided relegation. Another season like that and we would have gone into administration about 4 months earlier than we did.

 

He did a lot right and as well as a lot wrong.

 

If we'd gone into admin 4 months earlier we'd not of started on -10 this year and could well now be pushing for automatic promotion!!

[RonManager]

What a load of total tripe.

 

mmmmmmmmmm..........trrriiiiiiiiipe

 

 

 

[Thedelldays]

why do people even bother with this subject...?

[SaintRobbie]

He was also here for Saint's greatest period since Lawrie McMenemy including an fa cup final defeat and a successful move into a brilliant new stadium.

 

In the last championship season, fans always say he should have budgeted for success, by paying for all the high earners. What they forget is that the season before we had all of those good players and just avoided relegation. Another season like that and we would have gone into administration about 4 months earlier than we did.

 

He did a lot right and as well as a lot wrong.

 

He did very very very little right and alot wrong.

 

SMS was not all his work. An FA Cup final defeat is still a defeat... what's more he then lost the real architect of the FA Cup period - WGS - who to this day thinks he is a complete prat.

[SaintRobbie]

why do people even bother with this subject...?

 

I guess it is so we never find ourselves in the same position again. Lessons are only lessons learnt if you remember them.

 

...and I suppose the pain Lowe brought to all of us at this club is so deep that it will be hard to forgive and forget.