Welcome to SingaSaints  -  the Singapore Southampton FC Supporters Club!  No glory hunters, no Beckham fans, no skates!                                  "I see other clubs with bigger and better stadiums and more finances but they have not got the warmth this club has got." Gordon Strachan                                  "We may not be the best but we feel like the best. The future is red and white." SingaSaint Zul

VITAL FOOTBALL

Wilde man of St Mary's
by Stef C
25-02-06

The mystery shareholder who yesterday purchased 2,542,737 shares in Southampton Leisure Holdings for now understood to be £1.4million has been revealed as property tycoon Michael Wilde (profile).

It's understood he is totally seperate from the consortium led by Andrew Strode-Gibbons and could himself mount a bid to oust Lowe, before the consortium have even moved to purchase any shares.

Wilde is a Hampshire-based chairman of Merlion Group plc (profile). Their Chief Executive Alistair Baker said: 'This is an exciting time for Michael, the Merlion Group, and Southampton Football Club. Michael and I have worked closely for many years and I am sure successful times lie ahead for all involved, from supporters to shareholders. We are proud to be associated with the club in this way.'

So it's still pretty unclear what Wilde's intentions are and if this deal is his personal venture or is being carried out by the Merlion Group; if so it would appear similar to the arrangement with Rupert Lowe and the current board.

From the statement above it does suggest the club will remain on the stock exchange instead of being taken private, as Baker suggests 'successful times lie ahead for all involved, from supporters to shareholders.'

In the City it is thought the purchase is a prelude to a full takeover bid, which could now be mounted early next week.

THE MIRROR

Wilde card may trump Lowe hand
by Lee Reynolds
25-02-06

RUPERT LOWE'S grip on the Southampton chairmanship was loosening yesterday after a consortium headed by property tycoon Michael Wilde completed the purchase of nine per cent of the club's shares.

Former West Brom chairman and Saints director Paul Thompson sold two million shares at 50p each to Wilde.

The Hampshire businessman, heading a rival consortium from New Forest mortgage millionaire Andrew Strode-Gibbons, is now preparing a bid for Lowe's 1.7 million shares, valued at £850,000. The moves comes after weeks of fans' protests against Lowe in the wake of Saints' dismal season following relegation from the Premiership.

Lowe is demanding £20million to step down.

Strode-Gibbons's group were thought to be lining up a £10m offer before Wilde's consortium stepped up their interest.

Thompson, a potential successor to Lowe, kept 156,000 shares and will stay on the board.

Southampton Independent Supporters Association is trying to get fans to pool their shares to help any takeover attempt.

Who is Michael Wilde? Michael worked as a senior lecturer in Real Estate Economics and Town Planning at Singapore University between 1978 and 1984. When he returned to the UK in the mid-eighties, he realised the need for non-bureaucratic commercially viable ways of enabling affordable housing and set about implementing his vision. Merlion Group was founded in 1991 and in the last few years Michael has been chiefly concerned with steering the company through an ambitious growth programme. Michael is now a non-executive Chairman.

   
Merlion Group plc Merlion (www.merlion.co.uk) is at the forefront of developing affordable housing and innovative new homes across the UK. Through close partnerships with Government and local authorities, Merlion has developed an impressive track record providing affordable housing, as well as creating homes that combine contemporary style with comfort through its new Infinity Homes venture. Merlion has a corporate box at St Mary's.