Nineteen Canteen

Oh joy, and then how long before we have a demo for Crouch out and Dodd out after Crouch sells us the line the latter is by far the best candidate for the managers job having listened presumably to his football guru McMenemy. Stranger things have happened we might even see the return of Trant and Corbett to help plot our path to enlightenment and untold success Seriously, if we want Lowe out then interim solutions will be the nail in our final coffin no matter how 'complexed' that idea is. The anti-Lowe lobbyists need to have a credible candidate in place to take charge and IMO none of the above need apply.

Judging by the posts so far this march could be either embarrassing in its 'complexed' organisation or attract negative publicity with the coffin idea. 'Yer' organisers can't even seem to confirm a route accept a rough one but presumably they will have to contact the police before they are even allowed to leave the Bargate but at least they would get their message over to the bargain hunters in Primark. Mike suggests stopping on route for a few beers on route which may be a good idea. Mike, the way this is being organised I think they'll be bringing the brewery with them but you've no chance of having a good drink. I suspect half of the turn out won't even know the real issues you are protesting about and knowing the TV people they will pick on one those 'in it for a laugh' types for their reasons for demonstrating, their answers will be the usual uneductaed twoddle and all Saints fans (anti and pro Lowe) will get tarred with the same brush. Like Dragonov suggests there has to be better ways than this and I would be just a bit worried you follow a leader who can't understand a few basic principles to allow him to register with this forum. Into the valley rode the 600......... BTW mods just under 100 posts hardly merits a sticky or popular demand.

Difficult to know where to start but the vast majority of responses to my posts last night are not exactly unexpected but once again NickH seems geniune, realistic and balanced in his support. To that end it seems Frank's Cousin has an extremely level -headed approach without any prejudical agenda. Unfortunately, many have been indoctrinated into the intimidating and bullying style of the most vocal whose violent protest on Saturday whilst ugly in the extreme didn't achieve anything like a majority of support from the rest of the crowd but the damage done to our reputation and future harmony was significant and inflamed an already difficult situation. We as supporters had our 'wishes' granted nearly 3 years ago with the removal of Lowe. Lowe had delivered success to the club and raised its profile to far above previous levels of recognition and personally I was proud to be a Saint supporting a club with a very modern profile and forward thinging approach, a blueprint for others to follow. However, mistakes were made post 2003 that led to Rupert having to step down regardless of his or our own opinion of those mistakes. Certainly, in this environment we now find ourselves, those mistakes would barely register with the fanbase and pass us by as a chairman simply trying to save the club hamstrung by a lack of money. It maybe even ironic that many are calling for the sacking of the manager after just 6 months when Rupert's propensity in the past to change managers was seen as a major flaw. We chastise Wilde for the way he took the club forward and the arrival of Jim Hone and co. For all the negative perception about Michael Wilde he acted with the best intentions and should be respected as being able and strong enough to change direction when he recognised the need, as was the case last May. Creativity and forward thinking are fundamental if you are to build a thriving business but creativity is not without risk and we as a football club and a business (the two cannot be untangled) like many other clubs and businesses away from the game have suffered as a result of many factors including like us some calculated (readily understood) risks. The outlook is grim and if that requires the removal of our manager and coaching staff then I am sure those decisions will be made as Rupert Lowe has never shied from doing what he believes is in the best interests of the club. No doubt there will be a time for a change again in the future but at the moment we need stability and another round of musical chairs will really have the financiers twitching. If Lowe has their backing and we as fans can resolve ourselves to accept that he didn't need to come back and is simply trying to save something to which he is very close and proud of his connection not unlike all our fan then we need to show unity and support. Our crowd numbers have dwindled far beyond what relegation would deliver and if we compare ourselves to our peers it is clear we either have a much smaller genuine fanbase than we accept or there are other other reasons at work. In the past Southampton has always felt like a big club with a poor ground and then Rupert and his team delivered and we had a big club playing on a stage that really reflected the achievement and the forward thinking approach. For every upturn their is usually an equal and opposite reaction, hense the need for tight fiscal policy, and now we feel like a tatty club with some notably undesirable fans coming out of the woodwork intent on pulling apart the club as oppose to supporting and unifying it in its hour of need. Lets face it it has given us many good times and memories and yet we rail against it as if we were a bunch of 16 year olds rebelling againts our parents to use an anlogy from the news today. These are grim times and our concerted efforts should be in rallying support not trying to organise more intimidating, violent and ultimately feckless, bordering on the ridiculous demonstrations. Many of you see Lowe as some kind of tyrant from where I was sitting the real tyrants were acting in a far more ugly way on Saturday offering to take outside a few thousand fans who didn't agree with their call to stop supporting and demonstrate against the club we love. [snippet removed by admin] So no not a PR plant just someone who finally decided to overcome their aversion to forums and phone ins and stand up for their own opinions. I'm using a pseudonym? So what, if I want to protect myself by some people capable of throwing fists just because someone has a diferent opinion. With that in mind is it not more sinister that those who post on here with a more colourful language, that would indicate perhaps violent tendancies, should post under false names. Works both ways.

Why? A chairman is in control of the club and him meeting the players will provide benefit to both in assessing the situation and hopefully reassurance both ways. Was it a Pep talk or motivational talk or a sit round the table discussion about where we are at and how do we move forward. If everyone isn't pulling in teh same direction or individuals have concerns that are not being voiced is there a better way to ensure they are given the opportunity. You are basing your comments on perception and assumption and not fact unless you were in the meeting don't believe what you read or the rhetoric as what would have been said will stay (rightly) behind closed doors.

On balance I think we may well all be culpulable for the club's demise. The article in the Express concerning our drop in attendances is purely down to us unfortunately having a fan base of which a significant majority only want to watch Premiership Football. It's no longer about supporting Lowe, Crouch, Wilde but supporting the team. Any demonstration in the stadium is counter productive especially when you see supposedly intelligent men (judged by their posts on this forum) alledgedly behaving in a threatening and violent way towards older fans and those accompanied by chiildren. Mob rule by the excessively vocal minority will IMO send this club over the edge long before any further action by the current board. I have read the threads at length awaiting my registration and Nickh, AdrianSFC and a fair few others abused for their support of the club and thereby deemed 'Lowe -luvvies' are those who seem to have the most fair and balanced view on matters. When these users register a genuine concern then we should listen and act but without confirming Rupert's long held belief we do indeed have a lunatic fringe, with some even masquerade on here as decent citizens don't they Um Pahars. The reality despite your explanation that you all had a good laugh with your 'victims' afterwards remains a total disgrace and any further contribution from you treated with the contempt it deserves. Your actions and those of your mate were memorable for all the wrong reasons and I don't believe it was that easy for anyone to 'laugh off'. The saving grace is despite your efforts I understand very very few in Itchen south stood up with you.