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LYMINGTON TIMES
The following is an interview with substantial Saints shareholder Leon Crouch.
07-07-06
Major shareholder in Southampton Football Club Leon Crouch has vowed that Saints' new leadership will give the club "back to the fans" after his crucial part in last week's takeover.
The Lymington industrialist was given a place on the PLC and Southampton Football Club Boards and he has said there will be a swing of focus back to the players and the action on the pitch in its renewed drive for the Premiership. He also promised a return to the club's traditional values by welcoming back alienated big-name ex-players.
As the second biggest shareholder, he virtually sealed the resignation of former longstanding chairman Rupert Lowe by pledging his support for businessman Michael Wilde, who controls 18.3% of the club.
A lifelong Saints fan, Mr Crouch bought 9.8% of shares in April for £1.6 million after relinquishing control of his flagship enterprise Lymington Precision Engineering and Sea Talk Systems.
He told the "A&T" this week that he was relishing the new atmosphere and unity between the club’s executives, staff, players and fans: "This year the focus is going to be on the team - it is nothing to do with the board and politics, all that has gone now, everyone on the board is united behind the manager George Burley and the players, and I believe the fans will be too. We have a fantastic stadium and staff, and one of the best academies in the country, in my opinion. So we've got no excuses this year.
"Nevertheless, there's no guarantee but we will do our best. And if we don't get it this year we will try next year and the year after because Southampton Football Club is without doubt a top ten premiership club, and we owe it to our fans to get back where we belong.
"There will be new players coming in to the club to add to the existing squad and new investment in the club. A lot of people now want to get involved with Southampton Club now that Rupert Lowe is gone."
"I bought my shares to be an agent for change and have an important influence in the direction of the club which means so much to me. Unfortunately Rupert had lost support of our fan base and the vast majority wanted him out.
"He has had 10 years as Chairman and although he has done some good things in getting the stadium, strengthening the academy and keeping us on a sound financial footing he has made some very bad decisions concerning managers and players which ultimately got us relegated.
"Once you lose the fan base it is very difficult to run a club, you can't have matches where three quarters of the stadium stand up wanting the chairman out. This has a knock on effect on the players and you can't have that sort of thing happening."
Looking to the future, he said: "We have all got to support the manager and the players including those he brings to the club, and get the fans behind George and the players on the match day, which if we can fill the stadium and get behind the team is going to make a tremendous difference in the atmosphere in the stadium like it used to be when we were in the premiership.
"I'm very passionate about Southampton Football Club - they deserve to be in the Premiership. It is going to make a big boost to Southampton City and the surrounding areas."
He said he was pleased the control was now shared between the PLC board and SFC Board, which will be focusing on the day to day running of football matters, unlike under Lowe's reign of the last 10 years, when he ran both.
Speaking about new chairman Michael Wilde, who is based in Jersey, Mr Crouch continued: "He's bringing a new management style to the club and strengthening the Boards with commercially minded and passionate individuals.
And on Clive Woodward's reported pledge to stay at the club, he said: "It's a decision for the board and in particular for George Burley. If George is happy with him then he should stay."
However, on the return of former manager Lawrie McMenemy to the board, he was much more upbeat: "I'm really happy that Lawrie is coming back, he will be a good ambassador for the club, good on PR and Saints in the Community and attracting sponsors. I'm know the fans want him back and I'm looking forward to the day when he walks out onto the pitch and the fans reaction. This man made Southampton Football Club famous – we should never forget that."
Mr Crouch also said he was looking forward to welcoming back many of the alienated ex-players who did not feel welcome under the Lowe regime. "We want to encourage all the ex-pros from SFC to come back, it's their club.
"I hope that my decision to buy the Invesco shares has helped change Southampton Football Club for the better, only time will tell but I know for sure it won't be due to lack of commitment and effort and we will be a united Club once again where football will come first."
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