What would it take for Rupert to sell up?

[Colinjb]

I really do wonder.

 

His return, to 'protect his investment,' at the rate we are going his investment is write off any way. Is this some kind of obsession to him? To retain control of the club that damaged his reputation? The club that had several thousand people wish ill on him?

 

All instincts I have tell me he is holding on just so he can try to rectify the bad things that have happened, but also that he is incapable of doing so. What will it take to get rid of him for good? I fear he is retaining control for reasons other then business, his smirking expression is not one of a man who sees ill..... just smite.

Edited 21 September, 2008 by Colinjb

[IronCitySaint]

A rather nice executive salary for 2-3 days a week work certainly helps offset what is being lost on share price. That along with his nice payoff from last time and the previous ten years of salary. Not sure what will make him finally push off other than being dragged kicking and screaming. Nobody would be stupid enough to buy out his shares at the moment, IMO.

[alpine_saint]

Is this some kind of obsession to him? To retain control of the club that damaged his reputation?

 

Probably not far from the truth. I am not sure the value of his asset really matters to him any more. I think he is motivated by a simple combination of all or some of the following:

 

Spite

Pride

Arrogance

Revenge

Self-opinionatedness.

[Mole1]

What would it take for Rupert to sell up?

 

An investor willing to take on the debt and Barclays withdrawing their support.

 

It really must hurt Lowe knowing he's going to have to give away his shares for peanuts. Funny as ****.

[alpine_saint]

What would it take for Rupert to sell up?

 

An investor willing to take on the debt and Barclays withdrawing their support.

 

It really must hurt Lowe knowing he's going to have to give away his shares for peanuts. Funny as ****.

 

Wonder if he deeply regrets not haven taking Crouchie's 65p-a-share offer, and having not told Askham, Withers, Richards and Winsor-Toff to go-poke-it now...

[Mr X]

rupert has no intention of selling up we are like his little toy that he likes playing with every so often, we are his school experiment. Seriously be honest this man has no place in football full-stop. Where are the details of the investment he has allegedly been trying to bring to the club? Is he even bothering to look for any?

[aintforever]

His shares are probably worth close to zero so he doesn't have anything to lose with this last throw of the dice.

 

Someone who loves the club would give their shares away to someone with cash ensuringthe club has a future. Lowe, Wilde n co don't give a toss, they would rather the club went bust than give their shares away.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

His shares are probably worth close to zero so he doesn't have anything to lose with this last throw of the dice.

 

Someone who loves the club would give their shares away to someone with cash ensuringthe club has a future. Lowe, Wilde n co don't give a toss, they would rather the club went bust than give their shares away.

 

Probably closer to the truth than we may realise!

[lordswoodsaints]

the problem is not wether he will sell,it is wether there is anybody who wants to buy.

i have a sneaking feeling (and a little bit of inside help) that the help we are getting from the bank would not have been forthcoming if crouch and co were still in charge,their co-operation was only ever going to be given to lowe as the banks feel more comfortable with his financial ability.

i could be wrong.

[Delmary]

the problem is not wether he will sell,it is wether there is anybody who wants to buy.

i have a sneaking feeling (and a little bit of inside help) that the help we are getting from the bank would not have been forthcoming if crouch and co were still in charge,their co-operation was only ever going to be given to lowe as the banks feel more comfortable with his financial ability.

i could be wrong.

Wrong! Their business plan for the next 12mths was approved by Barclays. Don't forget Anthony Salz, Executive Vice Chairman, Rothschild (the finest legal brain in Britain - http://www.moneyweek.com/news-and-charts/anthony-salz-the-city-lawyer-everyone-wants-to-hire.aspx) was advising Crouch. There was no way Barclays would've opposed a business plan supported by Salz. Your contacts have been fed lies - all part of the silly games that the different parties have been conducting over the last three years. By the way Salz wanted to help out the club but Lowe opposed it. Edited 21 September, 2008 by Delmary

[saint1977]

What would it take for Rupert to sell up?

 

An investor willing to take on the debt and Barclays withdrawing their support.

 

It really must hurt Lowe knowing he's going to have to give away his shares for peanuts. Funny as ****.

 

I think that there are interested parties and that they are going to do to Wilde and Askham what SISU did to Coventry - wait until 24 hours before we go into adminstration and put in an offer at 15-20p a share. The bank will tell Wilde and Askham to take it or they pull the plug. If that doesn't happen, the Bank can see that the fans have no confidence in the board - even SMS attenders like me - and the club will put us into admin and then attempt to buy bck for peanuts as Bates did at Leeds. We must hope if that happens that we have an administrator that will preven that happening and make that sure SFC is properly capitalised and invested in at last.

[Verbal Kint]

the problem is not wether he will sell,it is wether there is anybody who wants to buy.

i have a sneaking feeling (and a little bit of inside help) that the help we are getting from the bank would not have been forthcoming if crouch and co were still in charge,their co-operation was only ever going to be given to lowe as the banks feel more comfortable with his financial ability.

i could be wrong.

 

Couldn't be more wrong. The banks had a lot more faith in Salz than they do in Lowe.

[Weston Super Saint]

Maybe if Scooby told him to :smt102

[wiltshiresaint]

Brown paper bag, and a promise to replace the Ted Bates statue with one of himself

[up and away]

His shares are probably worth close to zero so he doesn't have anything to lose with this last throw of the dice.

 

Someone who loves the club would give their shares away to someone with cash ensuringthe club has a future. Lowe, Wilde n co don't give a toss, they would rather the club went bust than give their shares away.

 

That is a valid point, but you have chosen to only consider part of the story. You also have Crouch and Fulthorpe in the wings, who could equally put money into the club to save it. Now as Crouch keeps reiterating his undying love for the club, it must be almost a given, but sadly no.

This undying love is difficult for most to fully comprehend, as it’s like adding capital punishment to “tough love”.

The problem is that Crouch and Fulthorpe do not have enough money to cover the debts we have and their only opportunity lies with administration wiping out those debts. The problem being that not only those debts will get wiped out, but any remaining assets alongside. We then end up with the remnants of a fire sale, a league lower and 17 point deduction. But we do get the Lone Ranger and Tonto riding up on the same donkey and proclaiming themselves as saviours.

What has clearly been demonstrated by the fiasco over the last few years, is what is best for the club is for all parties to come together and pool their resources, but we all know that will never happen. You then come to the crunch point when administration is a formality and I do not believe any side ceding shares or capital will do any good at that stage. Our best chance then lies with someone thinking we are cheap as chips and wanting to get involved, someone with a bit more about them than the tyre kickers and pikies we have had involved with us.

So back to your original point (although you only consider one half of the equation) about who should do the honourable thing for the club and fall in line and show their true love. Should it be Crouch et al, or should Lowe and Wilde thrown in behind Crouch? Well as Crouch’s only plan was nailed to the magic investment coming and making everything right, there can be little doubt about the flaws in that plan.

[swannymere]

Ferkin idiots, a buyer! Doh.

[70's Mike]

That decision in late 96 early 97 has led us to where we are today.

IMO no football club can run with multple shareholders, not only is the playing of youth an experiment waiting to fail, the biggest mistake was believing that you can run a football club like A PLC .

The PLC has always been built on sand with no adequate capital base, we were funded by Sky money without any backup.

Even in 2003 there were many who wanted to see the back of Lowe because of his attitude to the "customer" he and super Guy just never understood football supporters

[Window Cleaner]

Couldn't be more wrong. The banks had a lot more faith in Salz than they do in Lowe.

 

 

What even though he had no official role at the club?

Strange statement.

[saint_ed]

What would it take? An investor who actually has substance.

[lumpofshipperley]

Couldn't be more wrong. The banks had a lot more faith in Salz than they do in Lowe.

 

Erm, but we were shovelling money last season - couldn't afford to renew any loans, couldn't buy Phil Ifil. How could we have kept going like that without going into administration?

 

Why would the banks have more faith going down that road?

[lordswoodsaints]

Wrong! Their business plan for the next 12mths was approved by Barclays. Don't forget Anthony Salz, Executive Vice Chairman, Rothschild (the finest legal brain in Britain - http://www.moneyweek.com/news-and-charts/anthony-salz-the-city-lawyer-everyone-wants-to-hire.aspx) was advising Crouch. There was no way Barclays would've opposed a business plan supported by Salz. Your contacts have been fed lies - all part of the silly games that the different parties have been conducting over the last three years. By the way Salz wanted to help out the club but Lowe opposed it.

 

i never mentioned salz,i said that the banks were reluctant to deal with crouch but were more than happy for lowe to return.

although salz was happy to 'help out' that helping out would have still cost us money,lowe was capable of forwarding a business plan so cut out the need to pay salz.

[Delmary]

i never mentioned salz,i said that the banks were reluctant to deal with crouch but were more than happy for lowe to return.

although salz was happy to 'help out' that helping out would have still cost us money,lowe was capable of forwarding a business plan so cut out the need to pay salz.

Wrong again! Who's feeding you this BS. Salz's offer was FOC. How much is Lowe being paid? I know for a fact that Salz put forward his services but Lowe (possibly Wilde as well) declined the offer as he wanted another go at playing chairman. The rest is history.

[St Landrew]

It would be really nice if there were a few more Dubai Groups out there, ready to throw a bit of spare change at a [slightly..?] unfashionable mid-sized coastal football club. And unlike the one down the M27, there wouldn't need to be any spending at all required on the infrastructure.

 

Tbh, I still find it unfathomable why some super-rich billionanire, with a sporting bent, doesn't go for us. We should be available for a mere snip. And then throw 30 million at us and this league would be a stroll in the park. You can argue pros and cons until you're [the] blue [few] in the face, but just what is so bad about owning Saints..?

[Johnny Shearer]

That decision in late 96 early 97 has led us to where we are today.

IMO no football club can run with multple shareholders, not only is the playing of youth an experiment waiting to fail, the biggest mistake was believing that you can run a football club like A PLC .

The PLC has always been built on sand with no adequate capital base, we were funded by Sky money without any backup.

Even in 2003 there were many who wanted to see the back of Lowe because of his attitude to the "customer" he and super Guy just never understood football supporters

 

What constitutes as many?

 

On the other hand I could easily say there were a lot more that really didn't give a t*ss about Lowe whilst we were in the Premier league.

There aren't that many clubs out there with an adequate capital base as many are in the same boat as us.

[70's Mike]

What constitutes as many?

 

On the other hand I could easily say there were a lot more that really didn't give a t*ss about Lowe whilst we were in the Premier league.

There aren't that many clubs out there with an adequate capital base as many are in the same boat as us.

 

so why are they not playing a youth team

[Ponty]

Perhaps no one's offered any money?

[up and away]

Wrong! Their business plan for the next 12mths was approved by Barclays. Don't forget Anthony Salz, Executive Vice Chairman, Rothschild (the finest legal brain in Britain - http://www.moneyweek.com/news-and-charts/anthony-salz-the-city-lawyer-everyone-wants-to-hire.aspx) was advising Crouch. There was no way Barclays would've opposed a business plan supported by Salz. Your contacts have been fed lies - all part of the silly games that the different parties have been conducting over the last three years. By the way Salz wanted to help out the club but Lowe opposed it.

 

You can have Einstein, Archemedes, DaVinci, Newton, Pythagoras advising on the maths homework, but if it still decides to go with yellow, there is not a lot you can do.

[SaintRichmond]

I really do wonder.

 

His return, to 'protect his investment,' at the rate we are going his investment is write off any way. Is this some kind of obsession to him? To retain control of the club that damaged his reputation? The club that had several thousand people wish ill on him?

 

 

All instincts I have tell me he is holding on just so he can try to rectify the bad things that have happened, but also that he is incapable of doing so. What will it take to get rid of him for good? I fear he is retaining control for reasons other then business, his smirking expression is not one of a man who sees ill..... just smite.

 

Agreed

 

He will NEVER sell up

 

 

He is back because of Judas Wilde, and their respective Business "interests", which has sod all to do with Football

 

As regards his "smirking expression" ...... simple ....... he is just basking in the glory of being able to come back to the position that it took so long to dislodge him from.

 

As we are merely "Customers"... ( though not so many now Mr Lowe) , what we say or do counts for nothing, or means nothing, in his eyes

 

The quicker people realise the fact that he is NOT back for the benefit of what we paying customers go to see, the better

 

All he has so far achieved is selling most of the players that may have stabilised us in the CCC, and left us with a very young side lacking in the experience and guile to get victory's in this non-football type League

 

Surely we will have to go into Admin if gates continue to fall, and we plummet to Div 1 ... ????

 

The massive debt of St Mary's .... ( negotiated by super businessman Lowe ) .... cannot be borne for too much longer

[stevegrant]

All he has so far achieved is selling most of the players that may have stabilised us in the CCC, and left us with a very young side lacking in the experience and guile to get victory's in this non-football type League

So pray tell us, oh wise one, what you would have done in the same circumstances.

 

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

[Colinjb]

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

 

Short of a miracle sale to a billionaire, I don't believe there is one. And that is frankly so dismal a prospect that I wonder if it is worthwhile supporting this now sham of a club at all.

 

God I just hope I have the monday morning blues.....

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

What is needed to get rid of lowe?

 

Simple...

 

 

A bullet.

 

 

Ill get my coat

[Special K]

Short of a miracle sale to a billionaire, I don't believe there is one. And that is frankly so dismal a prospect that I wonder if it is worthwhile supporting this now sham of a club at all.

 

God I just hope I have the monday morning blues.....

 

You're right, there isn't one. The club will have to sell their best assets (lallana, davies, mcg, dyer) in January or at least off load the big wage earners (rasiak, skacel, euell, john, bwp) to continue to get support from the bank.

 

They've mitigated the losses to about 0.5m a month now, after the cost cutting pre season, but probably need to sell about £6m worth of players a year to survive. Gloomy times ahead for many years i'm afraid.

[Snowballs2]

So pray tell us, oh wise one, what you would have done in the same circumstances.

 

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

 

 

 

Steve at £26 quid a game to watch a load of crap, people have every right to whinge. Its all about value for your remaining disposable income in these difficult financial times and, if people see little hope at SMS they will whinge. But hey ..I thought that this is what the forum was for... exchange of opinions and let off steam. Don't knock contributors that whinge its what keeps the forum going.

[Wopper]

Lowe can stick whats left of Saints up his arse.

[VectisSaint]

What is needed to get rid of lowe?

 

Simple...

 

 

A bullet.

 

 

Ill get my coat

But only a silver bullet would have any effect

[Whitey Grandad]

Whilst we're on the subject, I've just noticed this smiley:

 

:smt046

 

I can guess that the 'R' and 'L' stand for Rupert Lowe but what does the 'F' stand for?

[itchen]

Steve at £26 quid a game to watch a load of crap, people have every right to whinge. Its all about value for your remaining disposable income in these difficult financial times and, if people see little hope at SMS they will whinge. But hey ..I thought that this is what the forum was for... exchange of opinions and let off steam. Don't knock contributors that whinge its what keeps the forum going.

 

You're probably right. But it doesn't answer the question: with large debts, expenditure exceeding income and no realistic investor willing to plough millions into the club with no real prospect of a return, what would the whingers do if they were in charge?

[stevegrant]

Steve at £26 quid a game to watch a load of crap, people have every right to whinge. Its all about value for your remaining disposable income in these difficult financial times and, if people see little hope at SMS they will whinge. But hey ..I thought that this is what the forum was for... exchange of opinions and let off steam. Don't knock contributors that whinge its what keeps the forum going.

Doug, I've got absolutely no problem with people venting their frustration, and yes, that is what a forum is for. Value for money certainly isn't being provided right now, as borne out by the falling attendances. I don't think many would argue with that.

 

However, there appear to be a number of people who are very one-sided in terms of how they use the forum. The vast majority of those on here, while they may not be happy with the situation, can at least debate things and offer suggestions as to what they might do that's different to how things are currently being run. Others, SaintRichmond being one of the main protagonists, seem to have a "grenade" approach, whereby they bang their fists on their desk, throw in their opinions and wait for it to explode with responses (i.e. people picking holes in their arguments). Yet strangely, when those responses come, they're nowhere to be seen and never have an answer to questions posed in response to their own views.

 

As I said, the vast majority aren't like that, fortunately, and can debate until they're blue in the face, regardless of which way their bread's buttered. We all have our own opinions, but in my opinion it's a bit of a futile debate when the loudest shouters refuse to engage in debate with people who either disagree with all of their views or ask for clarification or more information on them.

[Wes Tender]

So pray tell us, oh wise one, what you would have done in the same circumstances.

 

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

 

The alternatives available with Lowe and the Quisling in charge are indeed narrowed from what they might otherwise have been, as they have brought baggage with them that narrows our choices. Difficult to assess the percentage of fans who have either not renewed STs or who are boycotted some or all matches whilst they are here, but it is a factor. Likewise, as Um Pahars has pointed out on other threads, there are alternatives to the policies of this board to get shot of the last manager, sell all the family silver at bargain basement prices and import a Dutch coaching team totally inexperienced with football at this level or indeed in this country.

 

The bizarre experiment was not the only option.

 

How much of what has transpired is down to Lowe choosing this route as although it is a massive gamble, it could have worked and if successful he would have been hailed as the most imaginatively innovative Chairman in British football? Even if the plan had merit, I remain to be convinced that it could not have been implemented by others and that if Crouch was still Chairman something along similar lines could not have been attempted with Pearson. Cutting the wage bill and making other reductions to our cost base would have been an imperative for him too and it was obvious that some players would have to be sold to make those cost savings. It has recently become evident that the youngsters need some older heads around them and that the balance has gone too far in the direction of youth and inexperience.

 

Apart from anything else, many have stated that the current set up is not value for money and yet nothing appears to have been done by the board to maximise revenue through the turnstiles by making special offers that might entice ST holders or members to bring along children or friends at special prices.

 

So unless you can give good reasons why all of the above is unrealistic, then there are a few suggestions that might help the situation.

[Snowballs2]

The real reality is if we do nothing almost certain relegation and administration will quickly follow (End of Season latest). We do have a choice and that is to line up those players capable of bringing in finance in January by hawking them round the various clubs now and arranging an agreement of intent to sell to a club .

At the same time arrange some experienced loan signings to replace the departees, based on the hypothesis of certain young players who may attract a fee.

The only downside is that clubs interested will use this situation to offer silly money for any saleable player.

The behind the scenes powers should at the same time line up a suitable manager / coach with experience of English football to take over from JP at the next transfer window.

The Total football concept is fine on paper, the reality is that you need more old heads than young ones to get the team to climb the league and get some wins.

January is not too late to turn things round.

The only force preventing it would be the loss of face to Lowe in admitting that he got it wrong AGAIN.

The only alternatives to the above and there are two is that

1) a rich idiot can be conned into buying the club

and

2) We file for Administration soon.

[stevegrant]

The alternatives available with Lowe and the Quisling in charge are indeed narrowed from what they might otherwise have been, as they have brought baggage with them that narrows our choices.

Not sure I agree there. Unless some sort of white knight investor had come in over the summer and at least provided *some* financial assistance by way of covering portions of our debt, the vast majority of the high earning players were going to have to leave the club, regardless of who's in the board room. I have no doubt that Leon Crouch would have been forced into similar moves.

 

Difficult to assess the percentage of fans who have either not renewed STs or who are boycotted some or all matches whilst they are here, but it is a factor.

Agreed. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's practically impossible to assess the number of fans who are "boycotting" because of the presence of Lowe and/or Wilde.

 

Likewise, as Um Pahars has pointed out on other threads, there are alternatives to the policies of this board to get shot of the last manager, sell all the family silver at bargain basement prices and import a Dutch coaching team totally inexperienced with football at this level or indeed in this country.

 

The bizarre experiment was not the only option.

I agree, and it's a hell of a risk for the board to take. While I was impressed with the way we played in the early games this season, pretty much since half-time in the Blackpool game we've struggled. We've not been "awful" (think of the performances at Bristol Rovers and Hull and at home against Plymouth last season as a benchmark of ineptitude) so far, although the Ipswich and Barnsley games have been far from great, but in order to take a bit of the pressure off the players, they need to get results under their belts.

 

I don't have a crystal ball, I don't know whether this experiment will work or how long the board will persist with it if it starts to crack under the pressure. As I say, it's certainly a risk, but given that throughout last season we were crying out for a team of players who actually WANT to play for the club rather than just wander around collecting their over-inflated pay cheques, it's one that seems to be along the lines of what has been sought by a lot of fans. Whether they've gone a little bit too far in its implementation is another matter, but I guess if you're going to go down the route of playing kids with energy and pace, you might as well go the whole hog rather than a half-arsed attempt at it.

 

How much of what has transpired is down to Lowe choosing this route as although it is a massive gamble, it could have worked and if successful he would have been hailed as the most imaginatively innovative Chairman in British football?

It's entirely possible that, even though lots of people support the idea of players "playing for the shirt" with an emphasis on home-grown talent, they have a bitter taste in their mouths because it's Lowe who's implemented it.

 

Even if the plan had merit, I remain to be convinced that it could not have been implemented by others and that if Crouch was still Chairman something along similar lines could not have been attempted with Pearson.

I don't think it would have worked with Pearson. His style of play is very much an "up and at 'em" sort of game, quite direct with an emphasis on being "brave" and strong. I don't see an awful lot of physical strength amongst the youngsters, and wouldn't expect to, really.

 

Cutting the wage bill and making other reductions to our cost base would have been an imperative for him too and it was obvious that some players would have to be sold to make those cost savings. It has recently become evident that the youngsters need some older heads around them and that the balance has gone too far in the direction of youth and inexperience.

Agreed. I think the club were expecting a significant contribution from Jason Euell this season, who showed what he offered the team under Pearson towards the end of last season, and by all accounts looked good in pre-season. Unfortunately injury has scuppered that somewhat. He's got a bit of strength about him, as well as plenty of ability, and he'd have been ideal as a foil for Lallana, IMO.

 

Apart from anything else, many have stated that the current set up is not value for money and yet nothing appears to have been done by the board to maximise revenue through the turnstiles by making special offers that might entice ST holders or members to bring along children or friends at special prices.

Totally agree. If I didn't have a season ticket, I really don't know whether I'd be willing to pay £24 to watch us at the moment. That's not because I'm against anyone at the club or anything like that - the off-field situation makes no difference to me in that respect - it's simply because I don't think it would be worth the money, and I am very surprised that it seems as though nothing has been done by the club so far to try to address the current attendance situation coupled with the economic problems this country is facing at the moment.

 

I guess one of the problems is this: if the club were to reduce matchday prices to those with a season ticket (i.e. buying extra tickets on a per-match basis), it's possible those tickets may have been bought by those people anyway, and the club has just lost money for tickets they'd have sold regardless of whether they'd reduced the price. Of course there could then be more people willing to pay the matchday price if it was cheaper, but it's a risk. A risk worth taking? Who knows...

[Sheff Saint]

So pray tell us, oh wise one, what you would have done in the same circumstances.

 

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

 

I grant you there was not a lot of other alternatives (i might have used the million on Schndieren (good as he is) on getting in some old heads on a free and tried to keep Pearson but that's just me)

 

But what i don't like about Lowe is the way he protrays himself. I know that isn;t everything, but it doesn;t half wind me up. Why on Saturday was there an article about how well we've started the season. What tosh! Why after the Derby game was there an article about how we've come of age. 3 games in!

 

Every article and every story Lowe connected seems to be blaming everyone but himself for the problems. He seems to revel in the role of trouble shooter, like he now has carte blanch to do as he wishes.

 

If he turned round with an apology for the first relegation, explained that it was good to see the last board have a go at promotion when we did have some money, but as that didn't pay off, we've now got to tighten the belt. Sorry about that but we understand you still want to come and so we've put some emasures in place (pleanty of good ticketing ideas on this website).

 

Plus, maybe do a few more conventional things as well, like having kept Pearson? I've a lot of time for some of things Lowe wants to do. Football is to insular and it is horrible. But has he not realised he can't fight that? It doesn't work.

 

I know it's early days, and i really really hope we go on to win every game this season(!) but i and a lot of others have seen from history that this approach was never ever going to work. And so far that is being borne out. As i say, i'd love for Rupert to be right.

 

But i don't think he will be and the 'know it all attitude' that seems to me to come across, just doesn't help his cause. In my eyes.

[Snowballs2]

Rupert Lowes epitath...The most divisive person ever in the history of Southampton football club !

[Chez]

how much are Lowe and Wilde paying themselves?

[Wes Tender]

I guess one of the problems is this: if the club were to reduce matchday prices to those with a season ticket (i.e. buying extra tickets on a per-match basis), it's possible those tickets may have been bought by those people anyway, and the club has just lost money for tickets they'd have sold regardless of whether they'd reduced the price. Of course there could then be more people willing to pay the matchday price if it was cheaper, but it's a risk. A risk worth taking? Who knows...

 

Yes, it is indeed possible that if there are offers made to ST holders and members to buy extra tickets for friends and family that those tickets might have been bought anyway. But that is an accountant's philosophy rather than a sales based one. It was all very well having a policy of Gold/Silver/Bronze prices in the Premiership to encourage a full stadium, but somehow it doesn't seem to work now when the philosophy is to soak every last penny from the fans instead of trying to fill the stadium. Why shouldn't the same policy apply now? I'm sure that most would believe that if it has to cost £24 to watch us play Sheffield United, Birmingham or Reading, it ought to cost less to see Doncaster, Blackpool and Barnsley.

 

I'm sure that all those bleating at the value for money would feel a lot better about it if they saw the board at least making some effort price and offer wise to increase the numbers watching. As I said elsewhere, even if the profit margin after taking account of extra costs associated with extra attendances was not improved by one penny, it would still be worthwhile doing it for the improved atmosphere, getting people into the habit of attending and encouragement of new supporters who would otherwise be lost to the glory teams.

[70's Mike]

Special offers are available for Tyro and Eastleigh Mini Soccer teams.

I manage an under 14 side, every year since under 10 we have taken at least 12 boys to a game for a kid ( i say we , i organised it but let other dads take them because i already have my ST).

When we asked yesterday about trying to do it for a game nearer to Xmas , we only had 3 potentials.

The average person in the city , including 13/14 year olds, believe, whether its true or not, that we are c*ap and have no chance of winning any games.

I really fear for the club because unless we start winning , even if there are special offers, imo we are not going to get people to come to SMS , irrespective of cost

[Wade Garrett]

So pray tell us, oh wise one, what you would have done in the same circumstances.

 

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

 

It's not whingeing, it's stating the obvious. We are in this position because our boardroom has been Mickey Mouse for a good few years.

 

I have an alternative, get Rupert and the other monkeys upstairs on an incentive deal for their wages. Tie it to attendances and points. Stop putting Tyro League players in the side and leaving better more experienced players on the bench. Stop signing central midfielders and get some full-backs in.

 

The dream alternative is Askham and co realise how poor a businessman really is and withdraw their proxy's from him. Get Wilde and Lowe to crawl back under the stone they came from.

 

Total football/football first my arse.

[SaintRichmond]

So pray tell us, oh wise one, what you would have done in the same circumstances.

 

You (and many others) are more than happy to whinge at how Lowe and/or JP are running things, and yet hardly anyone offers an alternative idea that is realistic.

 

What would I have done, or not done ??

 

I would NOT have been so vindictive as to get rid of anyone who was not appointed by Lowe in the first place

I would NOT have got rid of ALL the Experienced players that ARE needed to HELP the younger players

I would NOT have gambled exclussively on fielding what in effect was our Youth Team of a few seasons back

 

But, I think most of all, having stated that I (Lowe) did not want to return ........ I would have stuck to that, as any decent Administrator could have done what Lowe has done

 

Just a few things I would have done

[Mole1]

The best way of looking at Saints is like a vintage car bought by Rupert and Mike.

 

They both took out a loan from Ocean finance to buy a run down old banger that Rupert had seen in his neighbours barn. The car was a total wreck, but Rupert was shrewd and he knew it could be worth a packet. Unfortunately Rupert didn't know much about cars and chief mechanic Wildes limit was changing a magic tree once a month. Nevertheless Rupert and Mike thought they could do the job and took out another loan, this time from norton finance to have the car done up by professionals. When the car got to the garage the diognosis was not good - infact they were told there was nothing that could be salavged from the wreck - and Rupert and Mike could no longer take out another loan because their credit rating was so poor. Rupert and Mike didn't know what to do and the debt from the loans spiralled. Rupert and Mike had no choice but to give up their dream and sell the car to the scrappys for £50.

[offix]

As I said on another thread: he will sell up about 24 hours before administration kicks in (ala Coventry/SISU). At that moment he has only 2 choices - see his stock go down to zero, or get a pittance for it.