Printer-friendly pageThursday, March 20, 2008
Rupert Lowe has reportedly initiatied a bid to regain at Saints having been ousted in June 2006.
Lowe, who is still a significant shareholder in the club, is said to be ready to join forces with Michael Wilde, the man who replaced him as chairman after leading the campaign to remove him. Wilde resigned from his position in February 2007, having failed to attract significant investment into the club, but remains their biggest individual shareholder. Together Lowe and Wilde are now believed to be plotting a return to St Mary's that would jeopardise the position of current chairman Leon Crouch.
In a statement to the Stock Exchange today Southampton confirmed Lowe had been in touch with the current board but said they have yet to receive details of his intentions in writing.
"Following the article which appeared in yesterday's Echo regarding Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, the company confirms that it has been contacted by Mr Lowe. The Southampton board has asked Mr Lowe for a detailed proposal setting out his intentions for the company which it has not yet received."
The Southampton board said they have not received a written proposal from Lowe and Wilde and spoke about the need to concentrate on matters on the pitch with Southampton just two places off the relegation zone. "All that matters at this stage of the season is the concentration of everyone (board, staff, manager, players and fans) upon the match against Coventry on Saturday and the need to succeed both then and in the following weeks. No true fan of the club or responsible shareholder could credibly identify themselves with such a controversial proposal at so delicate a time."
