the things Rupert Lowe has said over the years

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Watching that clip from 1997 after Souness and L Mac quit made me realise there was a lot of footage and interviews with our illustrious Chairman I have either missed or forgotten.

 

Now although I am anti Lowe, I don't want to turn this into another Lowe out thread but I would be interested to hear some of his more memorable quotes, possibly to use in an article. So if you have any authentic ones that are verifiable post away. Some actually are quite good - I particularly warmed to him (briefly) when he called Tottenham's Board "a bunch of North London yobboes" during the Hoddle departure - or was it the Dean Richards' transfer.

 

And then there was that cling ons on the starboard bow which for the life of me I can't remember the context. Darn I wish I had kept a record - too busy writing ITN, I guess.

[Mole]

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe confirmed on Thursday that Hoddle was a candidate for the manager's job.

 

Lowe rejected suggestions he had bowed to fans pressure in dropping plans to bring Hoddle back to the club he walked out on three years ago.

 

But Lowe told a news conference Hoddle could still replace Gordon Strachan and he would not be swayed by fans.

 

Lowe said the popular choice was not always the right one and that people deserved a second chance.

 

"The shields are up and the Klingons are shooting at us and every time they land a punch they are sapping our power.

 

"Of course we will listen to what the supporters have to say, but at the end of the day they support the club but they don't run it.

 

"He (Hoddle) is a tremendous coach," Lowe said.

 

"We want somebody who can coach the excellent squad we have built up, to lead them and be tactically aware so instead of us going to Old Trafford and Highbury and losing narrowly, we win.

 

"Yes Glenn left this club under a cloud but if anyone should be bearing a grudge it is me as he put me through the mill (when he left).

 

"It took me some time to find a solution and when we appointed Gordon Strachan we had a similar response from fans because of what had happened at Coventry.

 

"I am not ruling anything in and I am not ruling anything out.

 

"But regardless of whether he is the popular choice we will do what is right for this club."

[St Landrew]

FF, I assume you saw the other Lowe/Saints related videos on that link too. As mentioned on another thread the other day, I've found a complete episode of Meridian's The Club from 2002/03, on a VHS tape. There's a Lowe interview on it, and, as usual, he comes across as the chocolately smooth character that is the surface Rupert.

[Mole]

One of my previous posts.

 

'I've made it quite clear our club is run by the board, not the media.

 

 

'Our fans have to have trust in the board and we have a policy of not commenting on individuals, it is not fair on them.

 

 

'We run our club the way we think is best and that's good enough for us.

 

 

'All managers are judged on results - that's a fact of football - but our club has come a long way and is one of the best run in the country.

 

 

'There seem to be people keen to denigrate what we have achieved but we will stick together and move forward.

 

 

'As far as we are concerned, Paul Sturrock is our manager - he's running the club and we don't feel the need to comment on idle speculation.'

 

 

 

48 hours later Sturrock left "by mutual consent" () and Lowe said:

 

 

 

"When this pressure is compounded by a constant stream of negative and unfair media coverage, which has taken on a life of its own recently, the position becomes untenable.

 

"Those people responsible for perpetrating this unsatisfactory situation, often in return for financial reward, should take a long hard look at themselves."

 

So in 48 hours the club goes from NOT BEING RUN by the media to BEING RUN by the media. ROFL.

[Mole]

Oh and here's a previous thread on Lowe quotes:

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3911&highlight=sturrock

[Mole]

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=88121&highlight=asshole#post88121

 

[Johnny Bognor]

Everyone seems to have forgotten the one about us challenging for the Champions League places.......at the beginning of our relegation season

[aintforever]

Everyone seems to have forgotten the one about us challenging for the Champions League places.......at the beginning of our relegation season

 

That was classic that one, just before the start of the season Rupes was in the national media saying he wants Champions league football, a few weeks later he sacks Sturrock after just 2 games - blaming pressure from the media.

[archstanton]

There are some real gems here

 

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/rupert_lowe/

 

Pick your favorite, mine is

 

“I believe that we now have a management team that will deliver stability, results and exciting football. The number and quality of candidates that Clive and I have seen over the last two weeks have been outstanding, with George emerging as our first choice.”

[Huffton]

'Football is a results driven business...'

He seems to have forgotten that one

[SaintRobbie]

'We dont deal with smaller Clubs'

 

Over the possibility of getting Malbranque from Fulham and ultimately keeping WGS as I recall.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Some thing along the lines of "we are in a results business"

 

Someone needs to remind him of that...

[Thedelldays]

'We dont deal with smaller Clubs'

 

Over the possibility of getting Malbranque from Fulham and ultimately keeping WGS as I recall.

 

 

that is my favourite...lol

[Alain Perrin]

There are some real gems here

 

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/rupert_lowe/

 

Pick your favorite, mine is

 

“I believe that we now have a management team that will deliver stability, results and exciting football. The number and quality of candidates that Clive and I have seen over the last two weeks have been outstanding, with George emerging as our first choice.”

 

Sorry to be a Lowe apologist but isn't that a fact. Burley may have turned out ****e, but I can't remember people complaining when he was appointed. It was almost viewed as a bit of a coup.

[aintforever]

Sorry to be a Lowe apologist but isn't that a fact. Burley may have turned out ****e, but I can't remember people complaining when he was appointed. It was almost viewed as a bit of a coup.

 

Burley was well received by the fans, but that is irrelivant - it was another poor appointment - it's as simple as that.

[Alain Perrin]

Burley was well received by the fans, but that is irrelivant - it was another poor appointment - it's as simple as that.

 

No doubt he didn't work out, but it is not irrelevant.

 

Out of the candidates available at the time (those asked or interested in to managing a recently relegated club which needed a major restructure), I am questioning whether George was, on paper, the best man for the job - or rather who were the alternatives you would rather have had at the time?

 

Clearly no chairman appoints a manager expecting them to fail, why would they. That said, all you can do is look at is their CV and how they come over in the interview. On the CV alone (all we can go on) George was the winner by a country mile I'd have said.

[St Landrew]

Burley was well received by the fans, but that is irrelivant - it was another poor appointment - it's as simple as that.

 

Indeed, and I thought he was a good choice too, from a footballing perspective. Back then we had a squad who were capable of doing decent things. But all the fussing and fiddling around by both Board and then Manager just defused the whole effort.

 

And how well would this club have done if it had been promoted..? Possibly marginally better than Derby County, but I wouldn't have counted on it. No doubt the extra millions would have been partly sucked away instead of properly building a Premiership squad, capable of holding their own in the top flight. Typically, Saints would have spent as little as they could have got away with, instead of making sure.

 

What do I read like here..? Someone who has little confidence in the present Boardroom doing the right thing..? Yep.

[Elmore]

'We dont deal with smaller Clubs'

 

Over the possibility of getting Malbranque from Fulham and ultimately keeping WGS as I recall.

 

Any proof of that one Robbie?

[rpb]

Burley was well received by the fans, but that is irrelivant - it was another poor appointment - it's as simple as that.

 

In hind-sight you are right but at the time we thought it was brilliant - you can hardly blame Lowe for not thinking the same.

[saint1977]

Indeed, and I thought he was a good choice too, from a footballing perspective. Back then we had a squad who were capable of doing decent things. But all the fussing and fiddling around by both Board and then Manager just defused the whole effort.

 

And how well would this club have done if it had been promoted..? Possibly marginally better than Derby County, but I wouldn't have counted on it. No doubt the extra millions would have been partly sucked away instead of properly building a Premiership squad, capable of holding their own in the top flight. Typically, Saints would have spent as little as they could have got away with, instead of making sure.

 

What do I read like here..? Someone who has little confidence in the present Boardroom doing the right thing..? Yep.

 

Not many of our fans trust any of our major shareholders St Landrew, me included.

[St Landrew]

Not many of our fans trust any of our major shareholders St Landrew, me included.

 

I've a feeling we're not an exclusive club.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

For the record I thought Burley's appointment a good one at the time but hey what do I know?

Thanks Stanley for proper quotes

there must be loads more out there

how about "its just a blip" during our relegation season

[Mole]

For the record I thought Burley's appointment a good one at the time but hey what do I know?

Thanks Stanley for proper quotes

there must be loads more out there

how about "its just a blip" during our relegation season

 

FF just to clear up a little matter (out of pure interest), did Lowe call you an "Asshole" (sounds too American for Rupert) or an "Arsehole" (the English way of saying it).

[SaintRobbie]

Any proof of that one Robbie?

 

I cant think of where we could find it - but I remember it. Perhaps someone can help.

[SaintRobbie]

For the record I thought Burley's appointment a good one at the time but hey what do I know?

Thanks Stanley for proper quotes

there must be loads more out there

how about "its just a blip" during our relegation season

 

Duncan - perhaps you should also sift through the old 'Ask Rupert's'... bet you'd find some classics there.

 

What about the press conference too where he made Harry sit next to him and told us how good things were between HR, Lowe and SCW. Harry sat like a kipper - extremely uncomfortable being paraded. That would expose some interesting quotes.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

FF just to clear up a little matter (out of pure interest), did Lowe call you an "Asshole" (sounds too American for Rupert) or an "Arsehole" (the English way of saying it).

 

 

The latter

and I can remember because he called me it at least 20 times.

[Badger]

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe confirmed on Thursday that Hoddle was a candidate for the manager's job.

 

 

"I am not ruling anything in and I am not ruling anything out.

 

 

I remember the embarrasing regularity that the phrase "no one is ruled out,no one is ruled in" was used after Hoddle left and before Gray was appointed.Rupert obviously liked it so much he dusted it off and used it again after GH left.

 

I also remember an article after it was announced that WGS was leaving where Rupert said he wanted the next manager to be able to go to places like Old Trafford and Highbury, and win ! Eighteen months later neither were on our fixture list anymore.

[Fowllyd]

I haven't checked out all the links cited on this thread, but for me Lowe's coining (well, invention really) of the term "re-promotion" stands out. Class, pure class...

[benjii]

According to McMillan or Chorley or Foley or some such SISA person, can't remember which, he once piped up during a meeting with,

 

"Do you know the good book?"

 

and whipped out a bible.

 

if true.

[Badger]

I haven't checked out all the links cited on this thread, but for me Lowe's coining (well, invention really) of the term "re-promotion" stands out. Class, pure class...

 

I remember that causing a bit of amusement on the forum at the time.

 

Clearly Rupert "mis-underestimated" the challenge ahead (to use a GWBushism)

[Mole]

"The whole experience of relegation and the aftermath has been very hard to take but I do believe things are now looking up."

 

"Cynics keep telling me your win nothing with kids, but these are not kids. Many of them are aged 20 and coming into their prime!"

 

"We will give the fans free flowing attacking football that will be exciting and fast, the easiest route out of our problems is to see St Mary's full"

 

"It [money] is a bit like a drug - if you become reliant on it and someone takes it away, can you survive? For us, because we're a provincial club we have to rely on good management. Supporters now accept that fact. There's always the lunatic fringe who keep saying, 'Spend, spend, spend' and [think] that spending equals ambition, but I think most of our supporters are pleased that relative to other clubs we're in a good position."

 

"I remember being at The Dell one evening when we lost 2-0 to Leeds United. We had one point after 10 games, and the whole stadium was chanting `Rupert Lowe's a ******!' That's not nice. I did wake up one night and say to my wife, `What am I doing this for?' But I am not someone who backs away from a situation."

 

"Why would we sell Beattie to Charlton, we are a far bigger club & an established premiership team, they aren't"

 

"The purpose of developing the best academy in the country is not to sell scholars to larger clubs.”

 

“I'm always sincere even when I'm lying.”

 

"Everyone makes mistakes; the art is to learn from them."

 

"Players cannot walk away and the fact their wages are cut means we only have to sell if the price is right. There will be no fire sale or easy pickings here!

[sadoldgit]

Anyone would think we lost yesterday. Tell you what, lest forget about 3 points at last and have another pop at Lowe.

 

Jeez.

 

I have just watched a programme about Alan Sugar and the behaviour of some Spurs fans towards him. Seems every club has an element of those type of fans.

[St Landrew]

Anyone would think we lost yesterday. Tell you what, lest forget about 3 points at last and have another pop at Lowe.

 

Jeez.

 

I have just watched a programme about Alan Sugar and the behaviour of some Spurs fans towards him. Seems every club has an element of those type of fans.

 

But at least he had a few bob, and knew when to quit, leaving them in a better position today.

 

Despite firing Bambi, of course.

[saint_stevo]

Snooore

[Sundance Beast]

Watching that clip from 1997 after Souness and L Mac quit made me realise there was a lot of footage and interviews with our illustrious Chairman I have either missed or forgotten.

 

Now although I am anti Lowe, I don't want to turn this into another Lowe out thread but I would be interested to hear some of his more memorable quotes, possibly to use in an article. So if you have any authentic ones that are verifiable post away. Some actually are quite good - I particularly warmed to him (briefly) when he called Tottenham's Board "a bunch of North London yobboes" during the Hoddle departure - or was it the Dean Richards' transfer.

 

And then there was that cling ons on the starboard bow which for the life of me I can't remember the context. Darn I wish I had kept a record - too busy writing ITN, I guess.

 

And that last comment is probably why most people who take their news seriously will watch BBC or SKY news channels. Working on producing another balanced article Duncan or propaganda that ultimately can only bite the hand that has fed you in the past. Tread carefully old boy you are in danger of making yourself look a tad more ridiculous if that is possible. You're obviously more GMTV than ITN.

 

Word of advice if I may - let it go, it was only a phone call - have you never had a cross word in the happy clappy world of ITN news? Why try and continue to undermine those who are trying to run the club in the only viable way open to us at the moment. Not only that your stance and the encouragement of others is actually damaging the supporters experience for many of us of whom were once your loyal customers. The way you are going and the sources you seem to be reverting to, don't have a print run of more than 500 for your next sparkling read. Most fans I suspect, like me prefer our non-fiction portrayed without bias and our grapes a little sweeter.

[Sundance Beast]

Sorry to be a Lowe apologist but isn't that a fact. Burley may have turned out ****e, but I can't remember people complaining when he was appointed. It was almost viewed as a bit of a coup.

 

Firstly, never apologise for having an opinion especially if you support the current board. Ever heard the club anarchists apologise for refusing to step over the threshold at SMS until Lowe has gone or beating their monotonous ill thought out drum?

 

Always make me smile when the Anti-Lowe use Strachan's unbiased tome to try and hang Lowe, the same man who gave Gordon the job after abject failure at Coventry and all us fans saying wtf has Lowe done? Now Strachan is paraded like some kind of deity by the anti-Lowe brigade - you couldn't make it up although the anti-Lowe brigade love doing just that.

 

Anti-Lowe fan = Short memories or worse = prejudiced.

[Deppo]

Firstly, never apologise for having an opinion especially if you support the current board. Ever heard the club anarchists apologise for refusing to step over the threshold at SMS until Lowe has gone or beating their monotonous ill thought out drum?

 

Always make me smile when the Anti-Lowe use Strachan's unbiased tome to try and hang Lowe, the same man who gave Gordon the job after abject failure at Coventry and all us fans saying wtf has Lowe done? Now Strachan is paraded like some kind of deity by the anti-Lowe brigade - you couldn't make it up although the anti-Lowe brigade love doing just that.

 

Anti-Lowe fan = Short memories or worse = prejudiced.

Ah,Beanfeast...quoting your idol again?

[Deppo]

We've gone to hell in a handcart.

[Deppo]

Whatever one of those is.

[Sundance Beast]

For the record I thought Burley's appointment a good one at the time but hey what do I know?

 

Apparently, very little, you even seem unaware you have lost the plot.

 

ITN news writer uses Stanley as a credible and unbiased source. I suppose you'll be trying to spin a positive report on the Israeli's indefensible action of shelling a house full of innocent civilians by saying something like 'well in a warzone they were stupid to follow the advice of the enemy.'

 

Extreme? Maybe, but no doubt you get the point. I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to achieve DH but clearly taking Stanley as a point of reference and congratulating him for his material is extreme, divisory and provocative for this club's real supporters. Shame on you.

[Deppo]

Don't ignore me,Beano.

[Deppo]

How rude.

[Torrent Of Abuse]

Apparently, very little, you even seem unaware you have lost the plot.

 

ITN news writer uses Stanley as a credible and unbiased source. I suppose you'll be trying to spin a positive report on the Israeli's indefensible action of shelling a house full of innocent civilians by saying something like 'well in a warzone they were stupid to follow the advice of the enemy.'

 

Extreme? Maybe, but no doubt you get the point. I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to achieve DH but clearly taking Stanley as a point of reference and congratulating him for his material is extreme, divisory and provocative for this club's real supporters. Shame on you.

 

ITN - In That Number

 

HTH - Hope That Helps

 

It's probably best to hold off on all that talk about provocative, divisory posters who have lost the plot for the moment, Sundance. For your part, you appear to have marched into no mans land with no idea where you're going, no exit strategy and a gun which fires little bits of potato.

[Right sider]

ITN - In That Number

 

HTH - Hope That Helps

 

It's probably best to hold off on all that talk about provocative, divisory posters who have lost the plot for the moment, Sundance. For your part, you appear to have marched into no mans land with no idea where you're going, no exit strategy and a gun which fires little bits of potato.

 

Most amusing!!! Just light a match, walk away and boom.

[Tamesaint]

Thanks a lot Sundance. A new week starts with a realy good laugh at Sundance Beast!!

 

ITN means In That Number. The title of the booik is taken from a song which Saints fans sing. Didn't you recognise it? Perhaps you have not supported Saints for long enough to recognise it. Or doesn't Rupert let you sing in the free seats that he gives you??

 

By the way Sundance. Did you ever find out what Justin Fashanu is up to these days??

[um pahars]

in the happy clappy world of ITN news?

 

ITN news writer

 

ITN:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

You can forget your tales about having lunch with Justin Fashanu last summer, this has to be the ultimate loss of face.

 

BONG, BONG, BONG and now the News At Ten Presented by Trevor McHolley.

 

 

(Mods, I take back my offer of paying this guys membership, as he's a fraud.)

 

:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044:smt044

[eesti matty]

"Fortune favours the brave" circa Autumn 2004

[Frank's cousin]

The latter

and I can remember because he called me it at least 20 times.

 

Did you cry? ;-) (sorry FF - but like me I am sure you have bneen called worse!)

 

I find Lowe funny - the old 'sapping our strength with every strike they land' is classic farce.

 

Looking back at fans comments and Lowe's comments etc.... i am starting to form the opinion that perhaps apart from a few extremists who do have an issue with his background and the reverse takeover - most of the problems with Lowe is actually down to the simple fact that he truely believes in his approach to running a club which simply sits at odds with the opinion of fans and many observers - because in many cases it flies in the face of the traditional approach, or as we see it, the tried and tested one.

 

I believe Lowe had the attitude that given our size and infrastructure, the only way we could remain and be more competitive was to do things differently or be innovative - which scared the hell out of fans - and the failures of these plans have been more frequent than the successes which is why we now think he has no clue. Cant fault how these opinions are formed really as its logical given our current lowly status. But in mitigation, some of the failures at least have been unduly influenced by factors beyond our control...but thats another debate.

 

I guess my 'apologist' approach never had anything to do with supporting the man, but in seeing the logic in doing things differently - I liked the idea of a strong youth development approach, investment in sports science, have always liked the idea of continental system, of managers being there to get the best out of the players the club has, not completely changing things at great expense when they come and go... especially as they have no loyalty either - and its seems a perverse excuse of managers who blame their lack of success on the inability to spend vast quantities of money - for me we should judge our managers on the IMPROVEMENTand the results they get with the resources they have - but I guess thats unrealistic as well as as fans our demands and expectations are so much more ambitious.

 

As in all walks of life we are always far more forgiving of those that have success - had we achieved more positives with the approaches, the comments and crazy ideas whole response from fans to his arrogance, rants and insults of the customers, would in reality be forgotten or considered an amusing aspect of his character.... because of the very obvious position we find ourselves in, any deviations from what is considered the standard excepted approach is considered a fatal flaw.

[Wopper]

"Don't hit me again" Dave Jones saga.

[itchen]

Most sensible thing on this thread, Frank.