Will Lowe ever learn?

Sunday, April 2, 2006

Once again Rupert Lowe’s obsession with his own PR looks as though it will drag Saints’ name through the mire at a time when the priority for him and Clive Woodward should be concentrating on helping George Burley rebuild the side in time for next season.

The bad blood between Saints and Pompey looks set to continue as Milan Mandaric has vowed to sue after the war of words between the clubs continued.

Lowe claimed that Harry Redknapp’s return to Fratton Park followed an illegal approach and he lodged an official complaint to The Premier League which saw Portsmouth charged with breaching its "approach rules."

Lowe claimed during the week he could not trust Redknapp and was glad to see him leave. An attack which has sparked an angry response from Mandaric and he is ready to take legal action against Lowe and Saints.

"This is the final straw. As far as I'm concerned, Harry and the club are going to take Southampton to the cleaners," Mandaric told the Sunday Mirror.

"I'm done with Lowe. What man would demand drawing up clauses in a compensation contract to protect himself, his club and their rugby coach only to go out and publicly breach it himself?

"Over the last few months he and other Southampton club officials have accused us of all sorts of things including dishonesty, gambling and illegally poaching a manager it turns out he was glad to see the back off.

"I want a refund on my money. According to him he sold us a dishonest manager who can't be trusted so I have to accept I've been completely conned and must be the world's most lousy businessman.

"I'll keep Harry as part of the compensation package because it's not his fault that he's a football man and doesn't know anything about rugby or hockey.

"Rupert Lowe's attack on Harry and Portsmouth is unwarranted and outrageous. If I'd known what he was really like I wouldn't have spent £5.70p, with discount, on the duck I sent him at Christmas."

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie confirmed the club had instructed lawyers to look into Lowe's comments.

"Harry Redknapp has given us a copy of the compromise agreement that clearly states that neither he or Southampton can make derogatory or disparaging comments about each other," said Storrie.
"As a result of the very public comments made by Rupert Lowe we have instructed our lawyers to take immediate action on both Harry and the club's behalf."