Crouch stands down

Monday, July 23, 2007

Leon Crouch described himself as "gutted" after being sacked as acting chairman of the football board this morning.

Crouch attended a specially arranged PLC board meeting at St Mary's where the executive directors voted in favour of removing him from the football board and therefore taking away his position as acting chairman.

The New Forest based businessman, who owns just under ten per cent of the club's shares, decided to go to St Mary's to have his fate confirmed rather than take part in a telephone conference.

The move to remove Crouch has only deepened the now massive rift between the executive and non-executive directors of the club and an emotional Crouch was clearly upset as he spoke outside St Mary's after leaving the meeting.

He said: "I'm gutted. I'm gutted with the use of executive powers today.

"I shouldn't have been sacked. I have done my best and will continue to do so. This is a great job and a club that deserves to be in the Premiership and I will do everything I can now and in the future to make that a reality."

He added: "To be chairman was a life long dream. To me Southampton Football Club is a great club with a great fan base and a good set up and good academy.

"George is a good manager and he can get us back to the Premiership. I hope whatever happens today does not distract what happens on the pitch. I don't want that.

"This club is not about me it's about the fans."

Crouch also issued a statement detailing his views on what is happening at the club, as did another non-executive director Patrick Trant.

An official club spokesman responded to Crouch's comments by saying: "The work to bring in the much needed new investment continues."