We have lost the most fans : Offical

[um pahars]

In summary to get a large slice back we have to be in the PL or at least be successful. Whilst I am fully supportive of ridding the club of RL if there is a decent alternative it is clear that a lot of fans are not coming due to the success not RL.

 

We indeed have to be successful and it is my contention that we will not have that success whilst Lowe is involved to the degree he is, and as long as we pursue his mad, hair brained strategy of Total Football.

 

His judgement since returning has been found to be severely wanting. Why should we believe that all of a sudden he will be able to turn it all around, reverse his mad strategy and achieve something that he has never come close to in recent seasons. Eben if he somehow managed to turn it around (something I very much doubt), then what is to say that even if that is successful, he won't go and fck it all up again.

 

He had his chance, did well, then overstayed his welcome. He's come back and fcked it up royally again, yet people still want him here, with their best reasoning being they don't know what will replace him.

 

That has to be the lamest and most pathetic of endorsements and in many ways, it's pretty weak and certainly not forward thinking. It's akin to sticking with someone who you know is not right for you, only because you're afraid of what is out in the bigger world. What a backward and defeatist attitude. We're going nowhere under Lowe (actually we're going backwards), yet people aren't prepared to be forward thinking, optimistic and try and grab an alternative. Shameful IMHO.

 

We need to break this strategy and we need to do something to break the circle of decline.

 

Additionally, with regards a new figurehead, I also think that a unifying figure might be able to galvanise a true Club spirit and that any plea they might make would not be received with the derision that Lowe's equivalent appeal would. However, the main turnaround will come with success on the pitch, success that looks remote as we stand here today.

[OldNick]

We indeed have to be successful and it is my contention that we will not have that success whilst Lowe is involved to the degree he is, and as long as we pursue his mad, hair brained strategy of Total Football.

 

His judgement since returning has been found to be severely wanting. Why should we believe that all of a sudden he will be able to turn it all around, reverse his mad strategy and achieve something that he has never come close to in recent seasons. Eben if he somehow managed to turn it around (something I very much doubt), then what is to say that even if that is successful, he won't go and fck it all up again.

 

He had his chance, did well, then overstayed his welcome. He's come back and fcked it up royally again, yet people still want him here, with their best reasoning being they don't know what will replace him.

 

That has to be the lamest and most pathetic of endorsements and in many ways, it's pretty weak and certainly not forward thinking. It's akin to sticking with someone who you know is not right for you, only because you're afraid of what is out in the bigger world. What a backward and defeatist attitude. We're going nowhere under Lowe (actually we're going backwards), yet people aren't prepared to be forward thinking, optimistic and try and grab an alternative. Shameful IMHO.

 

We need to break this strategy and we need to do something to break the circle of decline.

 

Additionally, with regards a new figurehead, I also think that a unifying figure might be able to galvanise a true Club spirit and that any plea they might make would not be received with the derision that Lowe's equivalent appeal would. However, the main turnaround will come with success on the pitch, success that looks remote as we stand here today.

i would have thought once bitten twice shy could be aimed at us all. 'Anyone but Lowe was the call before and RL's return also has not been any good, except if he keeps us from administration and also if we stay up.LC Salz or many others may have done the same of course but surely avoiding administration is of paramount importance.

I do not fear a different figurehead but i want one for the right reasons, not for ego or just because they say the right things.

[Gingeletiss]

This has been said on many threads, and in many different ways. The fact's are, that some of said we wouldn't go to St Mary's whilst Lowe was in charge, we have stuck by that. It dosn't mean we have gone away, or that we are no longer Saints supporters, it's what we swore to do. We may be slated for this stance, but, hey ho, that seems to be an everyday occurence on here now;). Once this man has been ousted from our club, then the fans will come back, of this I m sure.

[um pahars]

i would have thought once bitten twice shy could be aimed at us all.

 

If a manager is failing, you don't stick with him just in case the new manager is just as bad!!!!!!!!!

 

Or you don't keep him, just because the one before him wasn't good either!!!!

 

You go out and find the best manager you can.

 

It may not come off, but just because there have been poor decisions in the past, it shouldn't preclude you from trying to make the best ones going forward. Otherwise you're just consigning yourself yo sticking with someone you know isn't right for you.

 

Will the next CEO be better than Lowe???, who knows, but to stick with Lowe just because of the fear of the unknown must be the most defeatist argument out there.

 

If you think Lowe is right for the Club, then whilst I may not agree with it, at least it is a valid viewpoint, but to stick with him because of a fear of a new man is ridiculous.

 

I do not fear a different figurehead but i want one for the right reasons, not for ego or just because they say the right things.

 

Then the major shareholders should be tasked with recruiting a new man for the right reasons.

 

I'm not blaming the supporters here, the blame lays firmly with those who refuse to try and get us out of this mess and instead prop up a failing CEO overseeing a failing regime.

[OldNick]

This has been said on many threads, and in many different ways. The fact's are, that some of said we wouldn't go to St Mary's whilst Lowe was in charge, we have stuck by that. It dosn't mean we have gone away, or that we are no longer Saints supporters, it's what we swore to do. We may be slated for this stance, but, hey ho, that seems to be an everyday occurence on here now;). Once this man has been ousted from our club, then the fans will come back, of this I m sure.

It is a free world, i myself realise that by starving the club of finance is self defeating.Less money through the gate less money to spend on players/wages the quality drops more the results get worse the gates reduce and so it becomes a downward spiral.Of course then it will prove RL is rubbish as the money to invest is much reduced.

Will you go again if RL leaves but we are then L1?

[Weston Super Saint]

It is a free world, i myself realise that by starving the club of finance is self defeating.Less money through the gate less money to spend on players/wages the quality drops more the results get worse the gates reduce and so it becomes a downward spiral.Of course then it will prove RL is rubbish as the money to invest is much reduced.

Will you go again if RL leaves but we are then L1?

 

Will you continue to go when RL doesn't leave and we are bottom of division 3 with -15 points?

[rallyboy]

Let's clarify - the fans haven't been lost, we are still here and desperate for survival.

But Rupert has wasted my money, twice, so I am not letting him do it again in quantity.

If we have two games to survive and the team needs support I will give him money reluctantly, though I would prefer to go to an away game.

 

Money through the turnstiles is no longer for the benefit of the team/ground/transfers/future, it is to pay the 'expenses' of directors who can see their shares heading for oblivion, or the bank for long term Lowe-instigated debts, and as a 'football customer', lets not pretend we are considered as anything else, I will not pay for Lowe and Wilde's holidays.

 

So the fans have not been lost, we are here, waiting to return when it is our club again, in the meantime the winners are Radio Solent whose listenership must have doubled.

 

And with a real figure of around 10,000 or less home supporters attending SMS, by now we just about have more dedicated stayaway fans waiting in the wings, than Pompey have at their top flight home games.

 

You may not agree with me, but I for one cannot finance Rupert anymore while he refuses to spend income on the club's relegation battle.

 

COYR!

[OldNick]

Will you continue to go when RL doesn't leave and we are bottom of division 3 with -15 points?

Is there a division 3??? Yes I will go, i do now i have for 40 years so why not.If RL stays in charge we wont get a -15 point penalty as we are up to date with the revenue and customs, so Im led to believe. If we go into administration we would lose -10 only if that stays the same.

I dont know that it would be the case if the last crowd were in charge.It doesnt mean i havent had enough of the RL and all its turmoil but for financial reasons I trust him.Footballing reasons then Im not so sure.

[Martin Orford]

These are the things that did it for me:

1. Sacking Pearson. The man performed miracles in keeping us up last year with a lazy and unmotivated team.

2. Sending our best forwards out on loan when we couldn't hit a barn door in front of goal.

3. Scrapping the free bus travel to the ground. Dreadful customer relations irrespective of the financial situation.

4. Poor style of football. Fancy passing with no goal threat does not constitute entertainment in my book.

 

After holding a season ticket for many years, I only go to away games now because I won't put a cent of my money directly into the pockets of the current board. And if the club goes out of business it will be entirely their fault for trying to sell us a poor product for far too high a price. It's probably time we started a new club like Aldershot or AFC Wimbledon did anyway.

[OldNick]

Let's clarify - the fans haven't been lost, we are still here and desperate for survival.

But Rupert has wasted my money, twice, so I am not letting him do it again in quantity.

If we have two games to survive and the team needs support I will give him money reluctantly, though I would prefer to go to an away game.

 

Money through the turnstiles is no longer for the benefit of the team/ground/transfers/future, it is to pay the 'expenses' of directors who can see their shares heading for oblivion, or the bank for long term Lowe-instigated debts, and as a 'football customer', lets not pretend we are considered as anything else, I will not pay for Lowe and Wilde's holidays.

 

So the fans have not been lost, we are here, waiting to return when it is our club again, in the meantime the winners are Radio Solent whose listenership must have doubled.

 

And with a real figure of around 10,000 or less home supporters attending SMS, by now we just about have more dedicated stayaway fans waiting in the wings, than Pompey have at their top flight home games.

 

You may not agree with me, but I for one cannot finance Rupert anymore while he refuses to spend income on the club's relegation battle.

 

COYR!

We look forward to your return.I may say we did hear that last time whren he was go9ing to go and the fans didnt return.

[Weston Super Saint]

Is there a division 3??? Yes I will go, i do now i have for 40 years so why not.If RL stays in charge we wont get a -15 point penalty as we are up to date with the revenue and customs, so Im led to believe. If we go into administration we would lose -10 only if that stays the same.

I dont know that it would be the case if the last crowd were in charge.It doesnt mean i havent had enough of the RL and all its turmoil but for financial reasons I trust him.Footballing reasons then Im not so sure.

 

Maybe you should campaign for him to run your bank then :smt102

[um pahars]

It is a free world, i myself realise that by starving the club of finance is self defeating.

 

And I would counter that the decisions taken by Lowe and others a few seasons ago cost this Club millions in loss of revenue.

 

In the intervening period other decisions also cost the Club £££££'s.

 

And then of course this season, I would also counter that decisions taken by Lowe this season have cost us millions as well (each 1,000 bums on seat = £500k over a season).

 

Forget taking it to individual fans and saying how their personal choice is impacting on the Club, it glosses over the bigger picture and fails to highlight the real culprits of our dire situation.

 

It's akin to emotional blackmail, with the line being trotted out being, "Without your money this Club will suffer", and the correct response should be, "With our money this Club has still suffered due to your incompetence".

 

A number of individuals (with Lowe IMHO being the biggest culprit) have cost this Club more in terms of money than any fan ever has or will.

[OldNick]

These are the things that did it for me:

1. Sacking Pearson. The man performed miracles in keeping us up last year with a lazy and unmotivated team.

2. Sending our best forwards out on loan when we couldn't hit a barn door in front of goal.

3. Scrapping the free bus travel to the ground. Dreadful customer relations irrespective of the financial situation.

4. Poor style of football. Fancy passing with no goal threat does not constitute entertainment in my book.

 

After holding a season ticket for many years, I only go to away games now because I won't put a cent of my money directly into the pockets of the current board. And if the club goes out of business it will be entirely their fault for trying to sell us a poor product for far too high a price. It's probably time we started a new club like Aldershot or AFC Wimbledon did anyway.

NP was not sacked, the option to renew his contract was not taken up.For the life of me i dont understand why LC did not give him a 3 year or even a rolling contract with a notice on it.Surely that was a mistake by him because if he had then RL would not have been able to sack him financially.As for miracles, please we have been over this time and again.When he came in we were closer to the playoff positions than the relegation places, the last game we were within 20 minutes of being relegated, that is not miraculous it was nearly foolhardy.

LC did the same we have been told on here.

LC was going to scrap the bus travel

Last season especially in the last 10 games the football was poor as well , this again was under LC.

Can you give us a reason why it is different now?

Going to away games would cost you more, but i can't criticise any of our away fans because they have been superb for a long long time now.

[OldNick]

Maybe you should campaign for him to run your bank then :smt102

I wouldnt campaign for RL as I wouldnt for any of the other people who have failed us.I just see both sides of the arguement and have been bitten the last time we jumped into the unknown. Get a decent alternative and i will be with you and isuspect 99% of the rest of the fans who come on here.

[OldNick]

And I would counter that the decisions taken by Lowe and others a few seasons ago cost this Club millions in loss of revenue.

 

In the intervening period other decisions also cost the Club £££££'s.

 

And then of course this season, I would also counter that decisions taken by Lowe this season have cost us millions as well (each 1,000 bums on seat = £500k over a season).

 

Forget taking it to individual fans and saying how their personal choice is impacting on the Club, it glosses over the bigger picture and fails to highlight the real culprits of our dire situation.

 

It's akin to emotional blackmail, with the line being trotted out being, "Without your money this Club will suffer", and the correct response should be, "With our money this Club has still suffered due to your incompetence".

 

A number of individuals (with Lowe IMHO being the biggest culprit) have cost this Club more in terms of money than any fan ever has or will.

Decisions by RL ,the Wilde bunch, LC HR, GH WGS and many others have contributed to our demise.Yes RL is am ajor part of it as well but you will not get me to believe that the lily livered team that cost us so many easy points were not as damned responsible as ANY decision RL made that season.Yes he left Wigley in charge for too many games but HR had many games to save us and the players well..

[Weston Super Saint]

I wouldnt campaign for RL as I wouldnt for any of the other people who have failed us.I just see both sides of the arguement and have been bitten the last time we jumped into the unknown. Get a decent alternative and i will be with you and isuspect 99% of the rest of the fans who come on here.

 

It's not up to us [the fans] though is it?

[um pahars]

It's not up to us [the fans] though is it?

 

Absolutely!!!!!

 

The major shareholders should be doing some very deep soul searching and they should be looking to get us out of this hole. Continuing with the status quo is proving a shambolic strategy.

 

If protests start to focus their minds, then I'm all up for that.

 

They need to be looking to find the right people to lead this Club out of the hole we currently find ourselves in.

 

Lowe has little or no support for remaining in situ, and those with the power need to be doing something, as opposed to sitting idly by and watching a busted flush lead us to our second relegation in a few years.

 

There's a whole world out there and yet for some blinkered reason Wilde and Lowe's cabal still pretend that he is the answer to our woes, unbelievable.

[egreog]

Nobody wants to go and watch weak, passionless, goal less defeats every fortnight.........the slide will continue into a figure of about 10,000 to 12,000 hardcore supporters........ unsustainable and will force change....... however that manifests itself

[Gingeletiss]

It is a free world, i myself realise that by starving the club of finance is self defeating.Less money through the gate less money to spend on players/wages the quality drops more the results get worse the gates reduce and so it becomes a downward spiral.Of course then it will prove RL is rubbish as the money to invest is much reduced.

Will you go again if RL leaves but we are then L1?

 

Yes...............once again, the point is lost on you. He, in my opinion, is the cause of all our woes. You may wish to support him:rolleyes:, but I detest the man. Don't blame the fans/we have lost the most fans, are two threads running......which one was your answer intended for??.

[St Landrew]

Reports say we have lost the most fans this year in the championship

 

Can't put my finger on why this has happened !!!!!!!!

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/4108792.Saints__attendances_on_the_slide/

 

Maybe it's the weather..? Which seems rather odd, as Southampton probably gets the best balance of weather in the whole of the UK. But I'll just continue to think it is the weather, write this down, and then insert my head into a large bucket of sand.

[Torbay Saint]

Maybe it's the weather..? Which seems rather odd, as Southampton probably gets the best balance of weather in the whole of the UK. But I'll just continue to think it is the weather, write this down, and then insert my head into a large bucket of sand.

 

Might have something to do with the low attendance for the SU game. I would have thought the slide in attendance is due to a mix of the following:

 

1. The poor results from the team over the past two seasons;

2. Board room politics;

3. The credit crunch - I don't think this factor should be underestimated;and

4. Weather (well for Tuesday anyway).

[OldNick]

Yes...............once again, the point is lost on you. He, in my opinion, is the cause of all our woes. You may wish to support him:rolleyes:, but I detest the man. Don't blame the fans/we have lost the most fans, are two threads running......which one was your answer intended for??.

He is part of the cause of our woes.You miss the point and cant see it is not JUST down to him.

[Gingeletiss]

He is part of the cause of our woes.You miss the point and cant see it is not JUST down to him.

 

But nick...........IMO, it is. This is where we are at odds.

[Wilko]

http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j144/van_larsson/?albumview=slideshow

 

Keep the faith

[OldNick]

But nick...........IMO, it is. This is where we are at odds.

I can live with that as it is all opinions.i will not accept he was totally at fault.

If you go back to the horror of the relegaation season and the loss of 2 goal leads, a player not taking the ball to the corner flag when the points were ours, missing an open goal at WBA in a 6 pointer, players getting sent off for gross studidity these were events that were just as culpable as leaving Wigley in charge.He was replaced with plenty of time to get us out of the mire.

[londonsaint1604]

This report is very interesting though.

 

For me, it is an unequivocal indication that the return of Lowe, or the results of his actions following his return, have seriously harmed the club's financial situation.

 

Any luvvie wish to provide a counterargument ????????

 

I think Lowe is ultimately to blame because your incessant criticism of him has bored so many fans to tears, and they have become so disillusioned with Southampton FC that they stopped going to the games. lol

[OldNick]

I spoke to a friend and was told that they were disappointed the game v Watford did not go ahead as the team were really up for it.The team (squad)are close and whilst it was a sickener to lose against SU the mood has become more determined.

The team went for a win instead of holding on for a point as they thought it was there for the taking.

All stops were pulled out to get the game played as it was thought that it was a good time tp play SU.

I suspect many of the more downbeat fans will criticise this post but again i got the sense that there is a mood change at the club and indeed they can survive.They know they have 15 games left and they will hit a good patch that will bring us out of the dolldrums.

I said to them that the Forest game would be enormous but the feeling was we'd be out of it by then.

I do understand that I was given hope before the SU game and was upbeat but the peole i talk to are not full of optimism without good reason.

[West End Saint]

I hope that when Ruperts gone all the fans that have been staying away come back I have still been going each to there own but as much as I want Rupert out I wont let that stop me watching the Saints.

 

Leicester and Leeds have had fantastic support in League 1 I am worried if everyone stays away I am going to be there on my own.

 

It would be nice that once we have our club back the fans get behind the team and we are well supported.

[eelpie]

I spoke to a friend and was told that they were disappointed the game v Watford did not go ahead as the team were really up for it.The team (squad)are close and whilst it was a sickener to lose against SU the mood has become more determined.

The team went for a win instead of holding on for a point as they thought it was there for the taking.

All stops were pulled out to get the game played as it was thought that it was a good time tp play SU.

I suspect many of the more downbeat fans will criticise this post but again i got the sense that there is a mood change at the club and indeed they can survive.They know they have 15 games left and they will hit a good patch that will bring us out of the dolldrums.

I said to them that the Forest game would be enormous but the feeling was we'd be out of it by then.

I do understand that I was given hope before the SU game and was upbeat but the peole i talk to are not full of optimism without good reason.

 

I do hope you are right.

The ball is literally at the players feet.

[um pahars]

I spoke to a friend and was told that they were disappointed the game v Watford did not go ahead as the team were really up for it.The team (squad)are close and whilst it was a sickener to lose against SU the mood has become more determined.

The team went for a win instead of holding on for a point as they thought it was there for the taking.

All stops were pulled out to get the game played as it was thought that it was a good time tp play SU.

I suspect many of the more downbeat fans will criticise this post but again i got the sense that there is a mood change at the club and indeed they can survive.They know they have 15 games left and they will hit a good patch that will bring us out of the dolldrums.

I said to them that the Forest game would be enormous but the feeling was we'd be out of it by then.

I do understand that I was given hope before the SU game and was upbeat but the peole i talk to are not full of optimism without good reason.

 

With all due respect nickh, we have been hearing that all season, btu sadly these litttle promises of "being up for it", "being confident" & "reay to repay the fans" have been very rarely acted upon.

 

Indeed, if they've been that "up for it", then it hasn't meant much as we haven't won under Wotte to date.

 

Whilst I admire your optimism, I would rather the team manager to string some wins together.

[alpine_saint]

I spoke to a friend and was told that they were disappointed the game v Watford did not go ahead as the team were really up for it.The team (squad)are close and whilst it was a sickener to lose against SU the mood has become more determined.

The team went for a win instead of holding on for a point as they thought it was there for the taking.

All stops were pulled out to get the game played as it was thought that it was a good time tp play SU.

I suspect many of the more downbeat fans will criticise this post but again i got the sense that there is a mood change at the club and indeed they can survive.They know they have 15 games left and they will hit a good patch that will bring us out of the dolldrums.

I said to them that the Forest game would be enormous but the feeling was we'd be out of it by then.

I do understand that I was given hope before the SU game and was upbeat but the peole i talk to are not full of optimism without good reason.

 

What complete twaddle. This new resolute Southampton will last as long as it takes for them to conceed the first goal.

[OldNick]

What complete twaddle. This new resolute Southampton will last as long as it takes for them to conceed the first goal.

I would like to have the option to stop posts that are positive going to fans like yourself who are basically 5th columnists.Nothing can ever be seen as positive to you and I post them so that the privilage I have of knowing a few scraps can be picked up by normal everyday fans who dont see all is bad.They also may like to believe that things MAY improve. We should have gone unbeaten in 3 , apart for the fact that we went for it (something that i applaud, although would have taken a point) and got hit by a counter attack in the last minute.The posts where i put in the bits i hear from within should be taken as they are meant to be , imforming some people on here who might like to know the mood in the camp.I suggest that you keep your views to yourself if they are only likely to rubbish or erode fans morale when I give any insights into the thoughts of the squad.

The squad was upbeat and raring to go before the Watford game, whether this BWP and DMG thing will upset the club only time will tell.

[alpine_saint]

I would like to have the option to stop posts that are positive going to fans like yourself who are basically 5th columnists.Nothing can ever be seen as positive to you and I post them so that the privilage I have of knowing a few scraps can be picked up by normal everyday fans who dont see all is bad.They also may like to believe that things MAY improve. We should have gone unbeaten in 3 , apart for the fact that we went for it (something that i applaud, although would have taken a point) and got hit by a counter attack in the last minute.The posts where i put in the bits i hear from within should be taken as they are meant to be , imforming some people on here who might like to know the mood in the camp.I suggest that you keep your views to yourself if they are only likely to rubbish or erode fans morale when I give any insights into the thoughts of the squad.

The squad was upbeat and raring to go before the Watford game, whether this BWP and DMG thing will upset the club only time will tell.

 

Have a word with yourself. We hear this bolllocks about the team morale all the time, though I am not suprised to be hearing it from you now that the OS is the laughing stock it deserves to be.

 

Oh, and your footstamping and describing people who find your PR ridiculous as "5th columnists" is really unbecoming...

[OldNick]

Oh, and your footstamping and describing people who find your PR ridiculous as "5th columnists" is really unbecoming...

but true IMO

[alpine_saint]

but true IMO

 

And that's all it is......

[OldNick]

And that's all it is......

theres never a poll when you want one is there.

a) Is Alpine a 5th columnist in our midst

 

b) Alpine is very neutral and supportive of the club

[SaintDonkey]

2005-2006 23,614 Lowe

2006-2007 23,556 No Lowe

2007-2008 21,253 No Lowe

2008-2009 16,662 Lowe

 

Lowe is clearly a factor but it has to be pointed out that attendances were in decline anyway.

Edited 10 February, 2009 by SaintDonkey

[broncoboy]

NICKH its time you accepted that whether RL is lLord God Almighty or the the pompous overblown **** I think he is he has lost a high percentage of his customers support.

 

Maybe he is just misunderstood by the fans but the fact is he is now a major liability to the club. Whether MW is any better is irrelvant. Lowe is perceived an an enemy to many of his customers and for that reason alone he should step down.

 

Please stop bleating on about his financial skills. His track record is apalling on any business measure. The turning point in SFC demise was relegation and the huge financial loss to the club.

 

He was in charge at that point.

 

Second major factor is that he never found investment in ten years. We are broke as a club because our board only takes money out in payments to themselves and never puts any in.

 

So please give us some peace. Rupert is a dead man walking

[OldNick]

NICKH its time you accepted that whether RL is lLord God Almighty or the the pompous overblown **** I think he is he has lost a high percentage of his customers support.

 

Maybe he is just misunderstood by the fans but the fact is he is now a major liability to the club. Whether MW is any better is irrelvant. Lowe is perceived an an enemy to many of his customers and for that reason alone he should step down.

 

Please stop bleating on about his financial skills. His track record is apalling on any business measure. The turning point in SFC demise was relegation and the huge financial loss to the club.

 

He was in charge at that point.

 

Second major factor is that he never found investment in ten years. We are broke as a club because our board only takes money out in payments to themselves and never puts any in.

 

So please give us some peace. Rupert is a dead man walking

I believe he should go as he kept Jan for too long and did not replece him with a CCC experienced manager.

I will still counter unfair or wrong claims that are put up here, as this is a forum for views.

As for the 10 years he didnt get investment in, he didnt need to as we were sound financially and if anyone wanted to buy us they only needed to come forward.It is only now it is of utmost importance.

[broncoboy]

As for the 10 years he didnt get investment in, he didnt need to as we were sound financially and if anyone wanted to buy us they only needed to come forward.It is only now it is of utmost importance.

 

 

NICKH I am losing the will to live here. The club ran a typical £7m loss in the premiership to go forward we needed investment. His mad plc structure made it hard to get investment

in without diluting his share ownership.

 

However if you agree he should go can you now not post for a while- thanks

[OldNick]

As for the 10 years he didnt get investment in, he didnt need to as we were sound financially and if anyone wanted to buy us they only needed to come forward.It is only now it is of utmost importance.

 

 

NICKH I am losing the will to live here. The club ran a typical £7m loss in the premiership to go forward we needed investment. His mad plc structure made it hard to get investment

in without diluting his share ownership.

 

However if you agree he should go can you now not post for a while- thanks

I will post as i wish, but thanks anyway. i thought that RL was pocketing all the cash from the transfers, well that is what it was said on these sites, now you tell me that we were losing 7m a year.

Have no plc's ever been sold? The business carries on and then a buyer makes a move to purchase.in the years you are harping on about football was not the must have of a billionaire, up until then there was a few millionaires who bought out clubs. Ambramovich was one of the first billionaires, a few more have come in since.we were unfortunate that the season we were relegated was the worst possible time as the fashion to own a club was about to reach its climax and so we missed out.As far as Im aware a CEO 's job is not to spend his/her time going out to find buyers it is only during tough times it is required.

RL's time at the club must be near its end as i cant see him bringing the fans on board and as i dont wish tpo spend the rest of my life countering the RL is evil nonsense the sooner the better.

[Alain Perrin]

I have sympathies with Lowe, but he is far from a unifying figure. It was clear that, when he returned, that some fans would stay away. These are the same fans that refused to go to the cup final when he was in charge and I salute them for their consistency.

 

But enough stirring. This is, yet again, being seen as a black and white issue.

 

Setting aside the statistical inaccuracies caused by comparing full season(s) - two of which received end of season boosts by a playoff/relegation battle) - with a partial one, there are many reasons why our numbers are lower.

 

1) We're losing fairweather fans the longer we're down.

2) We're losing kids who'd rather go and see premiership.

3) Flies round ****, Fans round wins.

4) Different mix of gold / silver / bronze home games so far this season.

5) Appalling home form = why bother

6) Credit crunch

7) Youth players, no star names

 

Rupert Lowe is convenient to blame and, rightly argued, a cause of some of those factors. If we believe the money situation is as bad as reported, the only thing that Crouch / Pearson would have been able to influence would be (5). I think Pearsons more blood and guts approach would have got more points at home, but no one can say for certain.

 

If Crouch / Pearson / Rasiak were still here AND we were still in the same league position, the numbers would be broadly similar (less the Lowe stayaways who count for around 500 in my opinion).

 

(note the use of 'in my opinion', it's far more accurate than declaring FACT!)

[um pahars]

I have sympathies with Lowe, but he is far from a unifying figure. It was clear that, when he returned, that some fans would stay away. These are the same fans that refused to go to the cup final when he was in charge and I salute them for their consistency.

 

But enough stirring. This is, yet again, being seen as a black and white issue.

 

Setting aside the statistical inaccuracies caused by comparing full season(s) - two of which received end of season boosts by a playoff/relegation battle) - with a partial one, there are many reasons why our numbers are lower.

 

1) We're losing fairweather fans the longer we're down.

2) We're losing kids who'd rather go and see premiership.

3) Flies round ****, Fans round wins.

4) Different mix of gold / silver / bronze home games so far this season.

5) Appalling home form = why bother

6) Credit crunch

7) Youth players, no star names

 

Rupert Lowe is convenient to blame and, rightly argued, a cause of some of those factors. If we believe the money situation is as bad as reported, the only thing that Crouch / Pearson would have been able to influence would be (5). I think Pearsons more blood and guts approach would have got more points at home, but no one can say for certain.

 

If Crouch / Pearson / Rasiak were still here AND we were still in the same league position, the numbers would be broadly similar (less the Lowe stayaways who count for around 500 in my opinion).

 

(note the use of 'in my opinion', it's far more accurate than declaring FACT!)

 

I don't think we agree on much, but I have to say I agree with your general premise.

 

Making it simple I have our fanbase split down into three groups:

 

The first lot are the die hards who will come what may (we're probably down close to that).

 

The second lot who will come if they feel it is value for money, they're not having the pss taken out of them and they are being entertained (they're the ones we've lost this season).

 

The third lot who only really came to see the glamour of the Premiership (the ones we lost a few years back).

 

 

Lowe has had an impact on that middle group.

 

In a direct way I think some are staying away soley because of him and the perception of how he runs the Club (the numbers are impossible to quantify).

 

Indirectly they are staying away because of him, as it is his "Revolutionary Coaching Set Up" that has patently failed to deliver this season.

[sperm_john]

to me its just natural devolution, if we were to go back up we would naturally have a mostly full stadium all of a sudden again

[tpbury]

I'm not supporting this ****ing club any more. I'm really upset. They can ****ing **** off!!!!!!!!

[OldNick]

Indirectly they are staying away because of him, as it is his "Revolutionary Coaching Set Up" that has patently failed to deliver this season.

that is something i agree with. I understand people saying that Wotte is responsible to a degree with Jan and his failure but from what i have been told that is not the case.

I am not happy that Wotte has been made manager but as he's there it is right we give him a few more games to get hs way instilled on the squad.

I have informed you what I have heard from the club that the players are up for it and they believe they will avoid the drop.

The reults still have been below average but if we had not conceeded the last minute goal we would be now unbeaten in 3.From that we can build, if we dont we are doomed so we need to stay behind the team and new man and pray it is not all talk.

[JohnnyFartPants]

that is something i agree with. I understand people saying that Wotte is responsible to a degree with Jan and his failure but from what i have been told that is not the case.

I am not happy that Wotte has been made manager but as he's there it is right we give him a few more games to get hs way instilled on the squad.

I have informed you what I have heard from the club that the players are up for it and they believe they will avoid the drop.

The reults still have been below average but if we had not conceeded the last minute goal we would be now unbeaten in 3.From that we can build, if we dont we are doomed so we need to stay behind the team and new man and pray it is not all talk.

 

I predict a good run of results starting now. I just have a feeling that players coming back and a new man in charge is going to give us the boost we need. Also, I think the Watford game being called off has been a huge blessing.

[Wes Tender]

I predict a good run of results starting now. I just have a feeling that players coming back and a new man in charge is going to give us the boost we need. Also, I think the Watford game being called off has been a huge blessing.

 

Has it? That rather depended on what the result might have been. Had we won, there would have been less impetus on protests this coming weekend. As it is, we have been in a state of limbo, the dissent from a growing number of fans just simmering beneath the surface, waiting to erupt.

[OldNick]

Has it? That rather depended on what the result might have been. Had we won, there would have been less impetus on protests this coming weekend. As it is, we have been in a state of limbo, the dissent from a growing number of fans just simmering beneath the surface, waiting to erupt.

Wes I may be wrong but are we not at Bristol this weekend.I ve gone and booked some business appointments thnking we were.

[Wes Tender]

Wes I may be wrong but are we not at Bristol this weekend.I ve gone and booked some business appointments thnking we were.

 

Are we? Doh! It just goes to show how disinterested I have become in everything Saints related. As I had said elsewhere, I really am in the mood for boycotting the remainder of the matches this season, unless I have a change of heart. It really is a sad indictment when fans like me decide that they really can't be that bothered about the club anymore, although my eagerness to get Lowe and Wilde out at any cost is increasing daily.

 

Oh well, a bit more time for the protest march and boycott to be organised for the next home game and extra impetus for it if we lose against an in-form Bristol.