Where have all the Saints fans gone? (From Daily Echo)

Sorry to say this but where has all the money gone from when we had 30,000+ every week?

It's easy to blame the "stay away" fans - but what about the mismanagement of the club? Someone must be to blame - so why do the fans have to bail the club out again?

I've spent literally thousands following Saints over the years, but my money will not be going into the club whilst the current financial clowns are in charge.

I'm not stopping looking at results or claiming Saints to be my club - but I'm not putting another penny into Rupert Lowe's company funds for them to be frittered away on players that are not worthy of wearing the red & white stripes.

SMS is so sterile nowadays - I like atmosphere at matches - I certainly got that in Block 1. I get my kicks now on the road.

OK you see where I live but I'd make 4/5 trips to SMS a year, plus all the away games north of Northampton. I'm going Tuesday - it's going to cost me £10...for a modern stadium and a crowd probably no more than 10,000.

The feel good factor is one reason I go - but SMS is not the fortress that was The Dell. I expect like most clubs the crowds will return if we start to win, and win well. I can only applaud the side that turned out at Derby, it was a great day out. More of that and you'll get the stay away fans back.

Rupert - just open the Itchen North corner. Closing it has taken the edge of SMS as an intimidating place. Hang on that was the home of your "Lunatic Fringe" - but the club don't need them - do they? Sorry Rupert but it was personal - you don't want them!

Sorry Nick there is only amount of pish in the pocket one can take from the likes of Lowe and Wilde.

I dare say there would be more in attendance if neither failed chairman where involved at SFC.

I dare say there would be more in attendance if Nigel Pearson was the manager. Literally ! and not some patsy to Lowe like Porto.

If you ignore all the spin and hype from Lowe/Wilde its all a disaster waiting to happen.

Many fans could see this all going wrong before it started.

Dutch amateur 'head coach' being dictated to by Lowe.

Lowe personally bringing in the players.

No organisation in getting some semi experience players on loan to backup the youngsters.

We should win against Barnsley but give it a month or two and we will be rock bottom.

The plus side to all this is that Lowe and Judas Wilde have hyped and spun their so called 'total football'. That they will have no choice but to resign (again !!)


Si Nick its not abandoning our hour of need. Its loyal fans disgruntled and dissillusioned by parasites like Lowe and Wilde.


I also want to add that the closure of the north itchen wing and its reasons is a total scam. Plod and steward levels have been the same in the three games ive seen to date like many last season !

Saints fans have finally woken up and realised they are being treated like mugs by Lowe and Wilde.

The Club should also give a detailed explanation to the current clubs finances. Lowe's 'PR Stunt' trade statement. Just doesnt add up as we have now seen ten new players arrive. One can presume they are not payinf for free ! Will Pulis and Forecast ever get a game ?

Just wait to the Lowe OUT protests very soon !

I can see the point of both of the above posts but I can't understand how people stay away because of Lowe and Wilde. Ok, I don't always agree with what they do but I support the team - and that means the squad that are playing or on the bench and Poortvliet.

It's alright people saying they won't put money in Lowe's pockets but then they whinge that we can't afford decent players! I don't know how people expect the club to move forward if we're not doing our bit. I know it takes two to tango but we can only affect our own actions.

It does seem that there are just as many stewards at games and I don't agree with closing the Itchen North as that was a source of a lot of atmosphere.

But it's up to us as fans to get to the games to MAKE the club open up the corners to fit everybody in.

Sorry Kate but you've been blinded by the PR.

It's not about financially supporting the team to get better players...when we did have 30,000+ and all the parachute money we got dross and not the players to take us up. The crowds didn't dwindle by that much, but the investment in the side fell woefully short.

How can we keep spending money and get nothing back?

Oh and I forgot...We're the Itchen over 'ere!

Would like to know how many of the stay away fans come from far away like me(other side of Lewes East Sussex). I know of many who come from this part and there must be others who travel so a Wed night match in many ways is a no go in the light of how were playing,we still do not have the points and with TV to contend with last Wed it was a bad night.Lets see what the crowd is Sat,I will be there in my usual seat.

Ringmer Saint.

When your paying £24 to go and watch a midweek game plus driving from Bournemouth it can add up-i know that season ticket holders have already payed top dollar for there tickets but surely if rupert was to lower ticket prices more people would come to the games-buying more food and drink as well

strange full house last game of the season mr lowe&chums come back change things about AND the crowds drop do you think its a connection are the fans are trying to tell mr lowe their not happy with him?Answers on a post card to SMS or chant it from the stands

I have been to almost every homegain since the eighties. But this season i have not been at all. Times are tough right now financially, and i as well as several of my mates just can not justify spending £26.00 and to be honest coming out of the ground feeling misserable about what i have just spent my hard earned money on. I stopped going half way through last season purely because what should be, and always used to be a good saturday out, is now most weeks the most misserable afternoon of the week to me. I have to choose carefully where i spend what little dipossible income i have and it has to be on entertainment!!!!!! I could have watched this current side for nothing last year. I will return & want to return when i start to get somewhere near my moneys worth.

The problem is TV its at all levels of the game working to kill intrest in any sport it can. Really Mr Lowe was not to blame for the poor attendance it was Mr Murdoch. Taking the game out of the public eye in the way the FA have done will cause its downfall as no public exposure means no intrest, means no fans. Just ask Hants CCC. Until the government or the competition standards comitee get off their backsides and break the total monopoly now held over the game by satelite TV young fans will continue to loose intrest in sports as they will have no visual link to the game from an early age the way we all did. That is how you become a fan of something by having heros to identify with and to emulate. Sky have taken that away from us and now the sport is starting to pay the price at all levels of the game not just the Championship but even Premiership crowds are down for clubs outside of the top five or six clubs. I had a choice to make at the start of this year either pay several hundred pounds to go and watch a sport that I fail to identify with in the same way anymore or pay less to get out of the house and participate in a different sport. Couldn't have made an easier desicion and it is this which is killing support in the game and will continue to do so until we have at least the FA cup and ALL England games back on terstrial television.

Mr Low.
lower your ticket prices and more people will come to watch the games. After all why should people pay top prices to watch what was last years youth and reserves. Why dont you put some of the money you have taken out of the club back in?
LOWE AND WILDE MUST GO.

Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?

Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.

What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.

Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.

We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?

We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.

Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.

Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.

Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....

It makes me sick.

Just to let Ringmer Saint know he is the not wrong as one of the Court Jester Crew I live just up the road from him or her in Uckfield fuel costs have made it an expensive day and evening out. I am lucky that one of my mates can put me up for the night.
However having said that if Ringemr Saint, me and others like us can be bothered to attend matches why can't others who have less miles to travel?
I have said it before Lowe and Wilde are not my favourite people but they are not on the field of play. We have to support the team through thick and thin. Lowe and Wilde will not take the blame if Saints fold they will point the finger at the stay away fans. Look at where the money comes from nowadays from Concerts no not enough are held at SMS, from television Saints will not be on Sky enough so not from there. The supporters yes its simple an increase in numbers will have a dramatic effect. Don't all you loyal supporters want our beloved Saints to do well.
If you believe that by supporting the Saints it will line Lowe and Wilde's pockets then you are wrong. Companies can only pay dividends on PROFIT not losses.
Stop whinging start supporting. Lets try to talk to all our friends who sometimes go to Saints to attend again. Get behind the team forget Lowe and Wilde.
Barnsley on Saturday could be a a good 3 points for our young team.
COYR

I am mixed about the whole thing. I have not been to a game since the last game of the season this year. I do feel let down by the board and have tried hard to detach myself from the Saints as like many i have felt really down after a game and the fun of a night or Saturday game has gone for me.

We are fielding a very young team and the cost i do not feel is justified yet. I have watched both our games on Sky and again felt mixed. Our defense is still absolutely shocking and it's all very well having fluent movement but every time the opposition team get the ball i get anxious that we have not got the defense to keep it out. And dead ball situations we must be one of the worst.

Saying all of this, i will show my loyalty as i go to the game tomorrow. I will be their with my wife, spend my £50 well earnt to see what happens.

I ask all who feel like me to pledge there allegience for one game. It's worth a punt and you never know we might enjoy it.
what you say??

Nick you really in a world of your own at times.

Nick you are not our leader, and you do not talk for me!

Echo why do insit on asking this guy? Are you looking to provoke other Saints fans, I think you are. Remenber it a double edge sword you are playing with if you are. Try being original and ask the fans not fan.

St.Yorkie wrote:
Sorry Kate but you've been blinded by the PR.It's not about financially supporting the team to get better players...when we did have 30,000+ and all the parachute money we got dross and not the players to take us up. The crowds didn't dwindle by that much, but the investment in the side fell woefully short.How can we keep spending money and get nothing back?

Yes a point I tried to make to Kate a few days back along with other issues of debate.

This is spot on!

Do the club seriously expect fans to pay out, hand over fist, when the team aren't producing the final product on the pitch? As posted above, money is tight, and most families are making cuts of some sort. SFC are fielding only about 5 players in the first team squad that anyone recognised a month ago. One of those has been out of the game for 3 years. Sections of the ground have been shut down where fans had been going since day one. If any part of the ground was to be shut, most assumed that the sleeping bags would have been rolled up in hte Cahpel stand, but the livlier corners were taken, because noisy fans seem to be dissaproved of at SMS. The board have treated their loyal fans with contempt. They expect everyone to just continue to fork out every time. The suggestions about dropping ticket prices was made towards the end of last season, but it won't happen.
The points about an untried and untested coach are also old points. Unfortunately, the board at SLH are determined to prove everybody wrong. Lowe is well known for his arrogance. He appears to make moves to goad reaction. Pearson was liked by the majority of fans, but there was no way on earth that Lowe was going to keep him (Wilde would have had no say) If his wages were excessive, would the board have trimmed some of their salaries in an attempt to keep him? Of course, this was Lowes chance to bring in a Head Coach who would echo his youth academy ideas. Unfortunately, it would appear that this master plan isn't having the desired results, and still won't have by mid-season or by May. If it was a good idea, somebody else would have already implemented it, and most footbll squads would be much younger (And Cheaper!!!!)The question has already been asked this week, why pay £26 ( plus travel,food, drink, programme, and a bit of merchandise. now multiply by the number of family members going)to go and be thoroughbly miserable? It's cheaper to hear on the radio that saints made some nice moves, but were muscled off the ball again.
Enough said.

REAL fans. If you attend the matches the Club plays, income will go up. If you don't then income will go down and the Club will die.

It's ever so simple - SUPPORT THE CLUB OR WATCH IT DIE.

Put all the comments about Lowe in your wallett when you draw out the money to buy a ticket.

My petrol cost to get to the ground is about £50 because I don't live locally.

Since I retired I can only attend a few matches a year so I have to pick and choose.

If I lived locally I would consider it a DUTY as well as a PLEASURE to go to each home game.

But then, I'm a supporter not an excuse for a supporter.

No-one can blame Jan Poortvliet here. This is possibly the best job he will ever get, and unlike most managers, his heart is obviously in the job. I personally think he has done a great job based on what Lowe and Wilde have given him...

Furthermore, the games that have been shown on SKY do not do us justice, they have been our worst performances. I agree with JMC, our defence is patchy and we do suck at dead ball situations.

JAMES
SVENSSON
CORK
SKACEL

That sound good as a back four???
it would be my choice

As for the top comment, I don't really mind the fact that the money for a ticket is going to LOWE and WILDE, i just care about watching the game of football and cheering on my beloved team.. THE SAINTS. so I will stay loyal forever, even if we become non-league

FAN-tastic debate!

I've seen the light - football is all about entertainment, and you get that watching Saints.

For all those who say we are not proper fans because we stay away...what about your favorite band/group? They go on tour - do you go to every concert? Surely it's the same scenario?

I thought Rupert was out of the limelight - but what was his smug face doing pitchside at QPR.

I moved out to Cyprus with work in May this year and the one thing i miss is not being able to go to the games at St Marys. You lot call yourself the true supporters of SFC, you lot just digust me, first to moan, first to jump on any band wagon and think you are so righteous in what you are doing, either go and support the team, or stay of forums like this just spreading your bad feeling towards the board and anyone else associated with St Marys. The club will probably be better of without you. If not they will go bankrupt and then you wont have a team, getting exactly what you want, you can then go and support pompey.

Graham, North of Watford wrote:
REAL fans. If you attend the matches the Club plays, income will go up. If you don't then income will go down and the Club will die.It's ever so simple - SUPPORT THE CLUB OR WATCH IT DIE.Put all the comments about Lowe in your wallett when you draw out the money to buy a ticket.My petrol cost to get to the ground is about £50 because I don't live locally.Since I retired I can only attend a few matches a year so I have to pick and choose.If I lived locally I would consider it a DUTY as well as a PLEASURE to go to each home game.But then, I'm a supporter not an excuse for a supporter.

We were having are most successful season for years 8th in the premier ship, FA Cup final & in Europe. Full ground, huge concession income. club shop with record sales. This is when the club had a great opportunity to move on, But NO!!! Not with Lowe in charge. Graham you are retired with i presume no young family to support, prob no mortgage to pay. You have more disposable income than most. Times are hard, bills and family come first, and then if we have any money left we can spend it on Luxuries. ST Mary’s is not a luxury right now, it is painful and it costs £26.

we have our reserves playing for us, I'm happy to pay to watch but at reserve team prices.

The Council have not helped matters inasmuch as they now charge for parking in the multi-storey parks after 5.30 in the evening. This used to be free but now adds about £3.00 on to an evening match.

sainthog7 wrote:
strange full house last game of the season mr lowe&chums come back change things about AND the crowds drop do you think its a connection are the fans are trying to tell mr lowe their not happy with him?Answers on a post card to SMS or chant it from the stands

Please, please please don't start this c**p again, the last thing these young lads need are LOWE out protests going on around them when they are trying to get experience and win games playing for SAINTS. For goodness sake, last season the majority of people attending SMS were on the backs of the "experienced" players e.g. Jermaine Wright, Jason Euell etc. and screaming for the young players to be given a chance. I have seen all the games this season at SMS (SAINTS are my team forever, through thick and thin) and I have seen the likes to Gillett, Schnerdelin, Llana etc. putting more effort in than any one the players last year and not strolling around just picking up their wages for doing sweet FA. At least they want to play for our Club and are trying to show that they deserve a chance. OK the results haven't gone for us so far, but it's early days - give the lads a chance. I agree we need a couple of old-pros to encourage and bring the youngsters through, but at least they are trying to play some good football and go forward. Ask yourselves, haven't we been lacking in the last 18 yards for the past two/three seasons this problem hasn't just happened since the youngsters have been playing. I predict that unless Scakel is brought back in at left back and Drew gets back into midfield before January he will be gone. His body language is already one of I hate playing at left back and because of his desire to get forward at every opportunity it does leave his defensive ability very exposed. Scakel is probably not playing because he would have to be paid appearance money, which if this is the case is disgraceful. We cannot afford to have players on very high wages, sitting on their backsides doing nothing when the team needs them. Ask yourself would your Boss let you do nothing because you didn't like doing what he asked you - no so why is it different for a footballer?
Anyway that's enough of my rant, my son and I will be there again tomorrow and here's to a good game and 3 points.
COYR's
s

Saintly wrote:
Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....It makes me sick.

100% Spot on with your comments.

We are skint yet paying wages on players that will NEVER play !

Is it true that the bank where happy to see the overdraft reach £5m which is the limit. Because the financial year next showed the same amount coming in outstanding transfer money from other clubs to us ?

The Daily Echo are not innocent in any of this and in particular Adam Leitch has been well and truly in the pocket of Wilde.

Its also a scandal that the teflon finance director Dave Jones was leaking confidential financial material to Andrew Cowen and Rupert Lowe over the last two years. This was used by Lowe for pathetic little digs in the Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers.

Why at a meeting in November of last year involving major shareholders to discuss the Ranson SISU offer was Lowe telling those present HE had been in dialogue with the bank ? What the hell has it got to do with him as hes merely a shareholder.

Lets be honest in all this Wilde and Lowe only returned to salvage their share values.

Wilde having bought on tick and Lowe having various mates owning six figure sums that are rapidly goind down the plughole.

Graham, North of Watford wrote:
REAL fans. If you attend the matches the Club plays, income will go up. If you don't then income will go down and the Club will die.It's ever so simple - SUPPORT THE CLUB OR WATCH IT DIE.Put all the comments about Lowe in your wallett when you draw out the money to buy a ticket.My petrol cost to get to the ground is about £50 because I don't live locally.Since I retired I can only attend a few matches a year so I have to pick and choose.If I lived locally I would consider it a DUTY as well as a PLEASURE to go to each home game.But then, I'm a supporter not an excuse for a supporter.

The club will never die as there are various fans who will never allow that to happen.

Its not a DUTY to be insulted and treated like a mug.

Fans will only take so much and this season with Lowe returning its come home to roost.

PS
Where is Mike Wildes £2m investment ?

UTS wrote:
Graham, North of Watford wrote:REAL fans. If you attend the matches the Club plays, income will go up. If you don't then income will go down and the Club will die.It's ever so simple - SUPPORT THE CLUB OR WATCH IT DIE.Put all the comments about Lowe in your wallett when you draw out the money to buy a ticket.My petrol cost to get to the ground is about £50 because I don't live locally.Since I retired I can only attend a few matches a year so I have to pick and choose.If I lived locally I would consider it a DUTY as well as a PLEASURE to go to each home game.But then, I'm a supporter not an excuse for a supporter.The club will never die as there are various fans who will never allow that to happen.Its not a DUTY to be insulted and treated like a mug. Fans will only take so much and this season with Lowe returning its come home to roost. PSWhere is Mike Wildes £2m investment ?

I am sorry, but if you see going to a football match as a DUTY, then that is possibly what is wrong, I thought it was about pleasure.... I would also see that one's DUTY is first and foremost to one's family, and I dare say they would benefit far more from saving the £50 or so total cost and spending it unselfishly on them rather than one person going to see a second rate team run by third rate managers...

What a lively debate as usual some the reactions are spot on. I had quite forgotten that the council has increased parking times and costs that is a very good point. Could we not have some concession on match days for season ticket and ordinary ticket holders? Where is our Saints Forum when you need them? Obviously our beloved council cannot see beyond the revenue potential.
Saints need support we all know that and I must agree with Graham North Watford it's falls on our shoulders as loyal Saints supporters to support them whether you feel it is a duty or a pleasure (especially if we win!!!)
Forget the protests about Lowe and the missing £2M from Wilde. Lets concentrate on supporting The Saints.
Illingworth's comments were made to create debate but he does little to rally the supporters behind the cause he could have called on the club to make concessions for mid-week matches. Perhaps even make the point that our council are creaming off of the true supporters. The withdrawl of the free bus tickets will affect the use of public transport therefore increasing the amount of supporters taking cars.
The team and I stress here our "Saints Team" need us as the extra player to cheer them on. JP may be still feeling his way in an unknown enviroment but at times the Saints team does look good enough to beat all comers in this very tough league conversly they can look very vunerable.
How can we contemplate any other outcome we are Saints supporters till we die? I started watching Saints from 1960 I'm not giving up 40 years plus of support.
See you all there on Saturday
COYR

Saints fans have gone to watch the only decent team,club amd manager in football in the region: Salisbury City.Come on you Whites, in 2 years if all goes well Saints v Whites will be a first division fixture!!
I went to the Saints v Blackpool match and to the Salisbury City V Weymouth match.I know which match provided entertainment value for money and it was not at St Mary's Stadium.

The crowds staying away has nothing to do with this seasons set up. The damage was done last year (and in the close season).

I take on board what everyone is saying but I actually prefer Championship football. It is so much more like football used to be with real fans - not the plastic Mancs or Chelski. I've watched Saints on 3 occassions this season (albeit twice on TV) but the football in infinitely better than the dross of last year. OK so the results aren't so good (yet) but I live in hope.

There is no doubt about it cost is a major reason for low attendances. Even if we were in The Premier League with cost +50% is at SMS now, I doubt if we would sell out against a team like Middlesborough.

I think everyone has a reason to stay away from SMS. Many like me have lost our passion for the game because of the effort put in by many last year. I came to SMS for the Sheff.U game and was really pleased for Nigel Pearson. Water under the bridge now - but he was the man to take us forward. He was young, English and passionate - but would he have bowed and curtailed to Lowe?

There's a lot of things wrong with the Company (that was the Cities football club) - one of them is not the 11-players on the pitch this season who give their all.

A trip to SMS costs me about £70 in diesel, plus a £25 ticket - and I need to be fed and watered. As much as I love my team - I'm not spending that sort of money on myself for 90-mins of entertainment (let's face it do you fancy a 4-hour drive home after another disapoointing result?

People of Southampton - I believe this article is aimed at you! There is part of me that wants me to ask you to turn up in your droves, and enjoy the experience.

However there is still part of me that chokes everytime I look at events over the past 5-years that make me so angry...why would I want to show financial support to more of the same?

The death of a club? It could never happen could it? With all the heartache, lost sleep, and agonising over the last 5-years - it might be for the best for me. If Southampton FC didn't exist I could get on with my life because nothing can replace the memories of the last 40+ years.

I have a great excuse for not going; I live in Africa. But even if I didn't, times have changed and I would probably not have gone to this game anyway.

This isn't to do with Lowe; it's because I cannot bring myself to pay the admittance. I started going to the Dell in the '70s, when the price of a ticket was about the same as a cinema ticket. I stood on the terrace, sang my heart out (the songs were better then, too) and got my money's worth. Now I come out of St Mary's feeling ripped off and exploited. If I go to a game I take my son, we have a couple of beers, pay to park the car, eat a burger somewhere along the line, and I end up spending the best part of £100 to watch a game of football where, mostly, the people on the pitch don't seem to really give a sh*t.

When I come home I have gone to a game or two - I was at the last game of last season, and felt all the old emotions that made me love the game & the Saints - and always left with this bitter taste in my mouth that, somewhere along the line, football has sold itself and broken the link between club and fan.

I live in a country where, when I come out of the supermarket, I'm sorrounded by swarms of beggars who have had arms or legs chopped off in a brutal, 15 year civil war, where 80% of the people are unemployed, where something like 75% of the female population have been raped, and 10% of the population has HIV/AIDS, and 90% of the population live on less than one dollar a day. It's almost obscene to spend an amount that would keep someone here alive for half a year to watch a game of football.

THe day David Beckham got his first £100,000 a week pay deal, I was working in a home for disabled children in England, where I watched a woman playing and interacting for almost eight hours of my shift with a child who could barely move, and coulnd't talk. This woman gave that child something that football could never match, and she did it for minimum wage of £5 an hour.

Bill Shankly was wrong; football just doesn't matter enough to justify paying these ridiculous amounts of money to watch it.

We have deified people for kicking a ball around a patch of grass; the result is a distortion of values beyond belief, and the wonder to me is that there are not more obnoxious self-aggrandising t*ssers like Joey B*rton around. Our own ND & BWP are examples of what happens when we give people such ridiculous status for being footballers.

I love Saints, I follow them as much as I can, I am miserable all weekend when we lose and joyous when we win, but until football returns to some kind of normalcy and - basically - morality, I will not further exasperate the problem by adding to the amount of money that has already spoiled the game.

If that means Saints struggling financially, well - at the end of the day, so what? Real struggling is the people I see every day struggling with food security and not knowing if their new born babies will survive past their first birthday. If Saints get relegated again, really; what does it actually matter?

When football returns to it's status as a sport, and ceases to be this ridiculous, overblown, self-inflated monstrosity that it has become, then maybe people like me will come back to watch it.

I will love Saints until the day I die, but let's face it - it's just a child's game played by men for a bit of a laugh.

The final straw for me was when they shut down the Itchen North Corner! I'm sorry but when they put it down to costs, whilst at the same time that, that Bandit Lowe continues to take a 6 figure salary, and while I'm expected to shell out approx 100 quid for train travel from Essex, a ticket and few beers. Then enough is enough.!
Even now, a Saints result will dictate whether or not I am going to have a good weekend or not. In fact a Saints Win and a Scumpey loss, makes for a cracking weekend that even the Missus gets to enjoy. Sad I know, but that is what Saints have done to me. I have now taken to supporting two teams. Saints & anyone playing Scumpey. It is a lot more fun and costs me next to nothing:-)
I Love Saint,s and have done since 76. But I will never step foot inside St Mary's as long as Lowe & Wild are at the helm

I have been supporting saints for 25years starting at the dell and seeing all the changes, managers, players, board room shuffles, but never had i seen our club this bad and badly run. I love this club with passion and have travelled round the country to towns and cities to support them even now i still am and will because i love my club, im a STH for so many years but never have i seen this club in such a mess because of the plc. Players been sold or loaned out and replaced if were lucky by loanees and now cos of no money the reserve players are now our fisrt team with no dis-respect to them, we need experienced players aswell , someone to take control out there and to show these players how its done but were joking, LOWE has **** this club up and he dont care if we loose like the QPR game i watched at home and the cameras picked his ugly mug out with a smirk in his face, We the supporters are feeding lowes pocket and there shares and why , because were loyal and support our club, Thats why so many people are **** of now watching the team struggle to put passes together and knowing that lowe is there watching our club go down the drain. Lets be honest its expensive these days going to footie let alone having someone like lowe running and destroying our club.So yeah fans will stay away and you cant blame them. But it will only get worse and i really hope im wrong. League one see you soon.

Tony in Liberia wrote:
I have a great excuse for not going; I live in Africa. But even if I didn't, times have changed and I would probably not have gone to this game anyway. This isn't to do with Lowe; it's because I cannot bring myself to pay the admittance. I started going to the Dell in the '70s, when the price of a ticket was about the same as a cinema ticket. I stood on the terrace, sang my heart out (the songs were better then, too) and got my money's worth. Now I come out of St Mary's feeling ripped off and exploited. If I go to a game I take my son, we have a couple of beers, pay to park the car, eat a burger somewhere along the line, and I end up spending the best part of £100 to watch a game of football where, mostly, the people on the pitch don't seem to really give a sh*t. When I come home I have gone to a game or two - I was at the last game of last season, and felt all the old emotions that made me love the game & the Saints - and always left with this bitter taste in my mouth that, somewhere along the line, football has sold itself and broken the link between club and fan.I live in a country where, when I come out of the supermarket, I'm sorrounded by swarms of beggars who have had arms or legs chopped off in a brutal, 15 year civil war, where 80% of the people are unemployed, where something like 75% of the female population have been raped, and 10% of the population has HIV/AIDS, and 90% of the population live on less than one dollar a day. It's almost obscene to spend an amount that would keep someone here alive for half a year to watch a game of football.THe day David Beckham got his first £100,000 a week pay deal, I was working in a home for disabled children in England, where I watched a woman playing and interacting for almost eight hours of my shift with a child who could barely move, and coulnd't talk. This woman gave that child something that football could never match, and she did it for minimum wage of £5 an hour.Bill Shankly was wrong; football just doesn't matter enough to justify paying these ridiculous amounts of money to watch it. We have deified people for kicking a ball around a patch of grass; the result is a distortion of values beyond belief, and the wonder to me is that there are not more obnoxious self-aggrandising t*ssers like Joey B*rton around. Our own ND & BWP are examples of what happens when we give people such ridiculous status for being footballers.I love Saints, I follow them as much as I can, I am miserable all weekend when we lose and joyous when we win, but until football returns to some kind of normalcy and - basically - morality, I will not further exasperate the problem by adding to the amount of money that has already spoiled the game.If that means Saints struggling financially, well - at the end of the day, so what? Real struggling is the people I see every day struggling with food security and not knowing if their new born babies will survive past their first birthday. If Saints get relegated again, really; what does it actually matter?When football returns to it's status as a sport, and ceases to be this ridiculous, overblown, self-inflated monstrosity that it has become, then maybe people like me will come back to watch it. I will love Saints until the day I die, but let's face it - it's just a child's game played by men for a bit of a laugh.

Nice to see it put in perspective!! It is after all only a game!

Unfortunately, at professional level, the behaviour of too many players verges on the "spoilt overpaid brat", or as you say are "deified", is contolled by people who are there to exploit it for financial purposes rather than for "the love of the game",and, finally and without whom none of this would be possible, attracts people to watch whose attitudes all too often verge on tribalism or even atavism.

Perhaps it is also symbolic of the way that we in "developed" nations are prepared to be ripped off and waste money on what is by any standard, utter luxury, certainly compared to where you are living!

It is amazing so many are critising the stay away fans, and yet they openly admit to not being able to go to as many as they would like. But they insit true fans should turn up in their own absence. The point is, that if you are in other parts of the country/world the pull of Southampton is that greater, as the club is in your hearts. So lay off other Saints fans, and get a propective on things.

To the fans who are staying away, may be it is simply the one same thing as well. It is hard for any human being to pay for the privilege to have your heart broken week after week, for some years now.

Simply the club survival is in the boards hands! For me the wrong board! Though what ever board is in charge, I have said it before, they should know their market, and put in place the right decision to fulfill that market and grow it! They have fail continuously here. They can not now expect fans to be SHEEP and follow their call to support through the turnstyles/pockets to dig them out of the crap they have lead this great club too! This is the simple fact, and it dose not change no matter how much pr they put out to try and change their(board) fortunes. The board are there to lead the club in the right direction, and not "we have a cunning three year plan" all the time. The board should lead this club in the direction of putting the passion back into the club, and give all Saints fans a reason to part with their hard earnt money, and yes this is partly the urgent need to go out and find (not make excuses) some much needed investment. Make the fans in a frame of mind to be saying I must have that. A recent and perfect example is the FA cup! We could of sold more than Arsenal in tickets sale. We turned up in a sea of yellow. This made fans say I must have, and they did. Then the board was clueless after that and just squbbled with each other, and made bad decision, which left us Saints fans debating time and time again. They create division in some quarters.

Once your a Saints fan you always a Saint fan. It is not wrong to feel the hurt, and to want a better future for Saints. To compete with other clubs, and win things. Not more long promises, which might not change three years down the line, as history shows this has already happen with these board menbers. It is the board function to unite all, and show the footballing world that they mean bussisness, and give every Saints fan a reason to stand proud, because the results are there and the heart is happy. Not simply turn the pressure on Saints fans heart strings and say cough up and help us out of this mess again we created, even if it is making you sick to stomarch and hurting after most games...because this is every reason to pay good money out of the family house hold, to be able indulge in this experiance.

I am one of the 7k that has walked away this season.
In the last 30+ seasons i have probably missed only one or two home games, i can even claim to be one of the few Saints fans that was at Goodison Park in 1974. I went with HOPE IN MY HEART that Saints could win and Brum would lose that day. However with the return of Lowe i have HOPE anymore - this is NOT MY TEAM i grew up supporting.

We all saw his GROSS MISMANAGEMENT of Saints in 2004 where the share price; share buybacks and dividends were far more important than the football.
Nothing has changed with him, if Saints were to inherent some money what do you think he would spend it on ? here is my list::-
(1) A method to buy Wilde out so that he doesn't turn on lowe again.
(2) Pay a dividend because it has been 3 years since his mob and their chums have had any return OUT OF Saints.
(3) Another Share buyback to hike the share price.
(4) Buy another Radio Station and call it Radio Scooby.
(5) Improve the catering from Prem League to Champion League standard.
(6) Add a 2nd Dome to the Training ground.
(7) Get one of Lowe Holding's companies back to do some work at St Marys.
(8) Get his mate Clive back as Director of Football to talk about the why the Judo and Athletics performed so badly this summer.
(9) Get Steve Wigley back to advise Portoloo on the tactics used by the "bullies" from other CCC teams.
(10) Employ some more PR companies to go onto the messageboards.
(11) Treat the fans LIKE DIRT.
....
the FIRST TEAM will be about 99th in the list of HIS priorities.

Wake up Nick, this Club will NOT GO FORWARD AGAIN UNTIL lowe and his cohorts are COMPLETELY GONE this time. That includes giving up his 25.1% veto on things and signing over the change of owner clauses on the stadium.

I have been to the final games of last season and the one before. Both were full because there was something to play for. Had we have beaten Derby and gone on to Wembley no doubt 40000 people would have wanted tickets- like the 33000 who went to Wembley for the ZDS game all those years ago.

Attention MR Wilde...........

You claimed recently in a rather deluded article in this paper that fans that are not happy are the 'Minority'. I beg to differ and can only think you have been brainwashed by MrLowe/Cowen/Jones etc

I here millionaire Rupert is going to return the £350,000 he took out the club in 2006 in departure.

Yeah right..........

This club is being run by part timers and it shows.

I understand that for lots of people at the moment times are hard and they have to seriously think where to spend their spare cash, but try not to equate everything in this life to money. I cherish every single moment of "quality time" as a Mum I get to spend with my teenage lad, time alot of Mums only dream of getting with their teenage sons. We go to watch SAINTS, our team together, we laugh together, cry together, are happy and sad together. Can you think of "I was there days" you have spent with your husbands, wife, sons and daughters, you know days like the 6-0 Wolves game, the last game at SMS last season, money can't buy you memories like this. I hope in 20 years time we are still going to watch our team, albeit he will be driving me I hope, but life is about the people you want to spend time with and has nothing to do with Wilde, Lowe, Crouch, McMenemy, etc. they are totally irrelevant.
I agree they have all made a complete mess of my Team, but I wouldn't sacrifice the time spent with my family just to make a point, do you really think they give a ****, course they don't.
Family Man, I hope the money you are saving by not going to watch the Saints you are spending either in quality time or spoiling your family, but I bet you just sometimes, even a little bit wish you were doing what I hope made you happy supporting your team.
Soccer Saturday on Sky and the BBC final score programme cannot really replace being there supporting your team.
St Yorkie, I agree with everything you say regarding Man U, Chelsea, etc. you don't have to even consider buying a season ticket at Old Trafford as every single game is on TV at sometime, somewhere over the weekend why would you want to go and experience the 'real live experience', see a player you idolise who wouldn't even bother to acknowledge you, oh but I wear the shirt, it must make me a fan.
I appreciate footie is not life or death, but my goodness it makes such a difference to so many peoples lives, just picture all those smiling faces on the pitch at the end of last season but it also ruins many a weekend.
Our Club is at its lowest point for a long long time but hey things can only get better and lets get behind the team tomorrow and cheer them to victory.
COYR's

Unlike Nick Illingsworth, SFC is not the only thing in my life. I do not like spending loads of money to watch utter rubbish. I am totally bored with the style of football in the so called Championship. I don't find it enjoyable going to St Mary's anymore. The catering is poor and overpriced and the product on the pitch is worse.
Lowe should listen to what many have been saying for four years. That is, build an experienced team with muscle. Lads will not succeed. If they started to win and show consistency then I would go back. I'm going to watch Aldershot tomorrow, a much better idea than SFC v Barnsley.
However, the

Who does Illingsworth think he is? I'm fed up with this idiot thinking he is the voice of saints fans when he talks utter crap!

I'll be honest to say I won't follow another team or go to watch another club.

I'll just not go at all - and when I need a fix I'll visit a far off place where The Saints play...some new grounds...maybe back to Crewe or Colchester.

It's my wifes 50th next weekend - and I was deluded enough to think I would go and watch the boys at Doncaster! The house had a terrible atmosphere, I went to watch the Blackpool game (down the pub) none the less - and we lost.

I got home and came to the conclusion looking at her - she never let's me down like this lot have over the 30 years we've been married. Needless to say The Dales and an weekend away is more expensive than going to Doncaster - but I know which one is going to be more enjoyable!

Guess I will be the only one going tomorrow. Hey Ho!

I will be going tomorrow and to every game i can physically manage because i love the Saints.

I couldn't give two thumbs about Lowe and Wilde, i certainly wouldn't stop going to watch Saints because of them - they mean as much to me as rugby and croissants.

The football may not be good quality atm, and i may be miserable if and when we lose. I'll also be happy in the mental if we win. I haven't got that much money but to those thousands of 'fans' who have stopped coming citing that there's not enough glory, you'll be welcomed inat some rich, soulless prem clubs so good riddance.

As long as there are players proud to wear the shirt - which there are - i'll do everything in my power to see us succeed - but i'll also be there if we fail, because i'm a committed fan.

COYR

Two Words -
RUPERT and LOWE!!!

If you go to the forums of local nonleague teams such as Totton, Win City, Eastleigh and Soursbury, you will see they are full of disgruntled Saints fans who still care about the club but have got fed up with the background BS, the cost and the lack of value for money at SMS. For too long the club has shat on fans from a great height, relying on the blind natural loyalty fans have for the team to keep coming back. But that can only be stretched so far and now many of those have had enough and have found the fun, entertainment and value for money that they once got from Saints, now in Non-League football.

Why have I stopped going?
1. Protest against mismanagement by board members who have not fulfilled promises to invest;
2. Team of kids and stiffs not worth paying good money to watch.

It would be easy to dismiss Wednesday’s low attendance on the team’s low position. Oh! No doubt there will be a some supporters who will stay away for that reason, but the reason for low attendances maybe much more complex.

I’m one of the many long distance season ticket holders (there are quite a few of us) and because of the recent hike in fuel costs have had to make some domestic economies. (As I explain in www.theexiledsaint.n
et ) As an OAP it cost’s me three times more in fuel than admission costs. Midweek home games are therefore sacrificed as it is also often the early hours of the following morning before we return home.

Next is the current global financial situation. When it comes to economising it will be mid week entertainment that’s usually the first to go; that midweek pint at the pub with the curry on the way home. Also it’s cheaper to stop in with a four-pack and watch the Arsenal on the box.

After that is the price range. Objectively, if I were not a pensioner and a supporter then I would certainly think twice about forking out the full price for a Saints game. That's irrespective of no matter how much in fact the cost of seeing a live sporting event is good value, and this for another debate, in that your presence can affect the outcome. You can cheer, scream and shout as much as you like but you will never affect the outcome of a ballet, concert, film, play or opera. The author, composer or playwright has decides that for you.

Lastly, whilst it would be churlish to deny that television has brought advantages to many sports, it has made the average football fan impatient. He (she) expects to see all action, all heroics, all the time and with a happy ending. Football, like criket, isn’t like that. My young nephew wonders why I travel over 400 miles (round trip) to see the Saints “loose”. I have difficulty in explaining I don’t know if my team is going to loose or win before I set off. That’s quite a difference.

It’s sad that the attendances at SMS are currently low, and whilst it’s true that if the team improves those figures will increase, however, it’s not all down to our lowly status.

There will be at least four Exiled Saints wending their way down from Cheshire and Shropshire tomorrow to see the Reds beat the Tykes!

Finally, if to morrow’s fine, why not come down to St Mary’s and forget the credit crunch or other troubles for ninety minutes and take in a game of football? Your problems may still be there when you come out, but you will see live entertainment and you’ll be in the greatest company on the South Coast!

COYS.

Good point - Mike Wilde promised to invest 2mill, never happened. That cash could get us a desperately needed pair of fullbacks on loan for the season (wages) if he had put it in pre-season.

Nonetheless, he didn't. He's gone back on his word and it is bad. That won't stop me from supporting the team though.

These kids have played some great football already this season, better than all of last year. They are kids though, so they need a bit of time to find their feet, and they need our support. Those of them who love the club (Drew, Gillet, Adam, Dave)hate Lowe as much as the rest of us do. Stop feeling so hard done by and come to the game, support the team and ignore Lowe.

Love is pain.

Having supported The Saints for in excess of 50 years I have contributed a lot of money watching both the the reserves and the first team over the years.
Witnessing the debarcle of the last twelve years and seen how Rupert Lowe will carry out any action he deems correct without giving any consideration to the fans or employees and also having been insulted by him when I questioned his ability as a Chairman of the football club I am also a member of the public who will not step inside St Mary's untill he has gone.
The club has young players with ability playing at this moment of time but watch Mr Lowe sell any of them when he receives offers in January.
This club will soon be playing Bournemouth if this board stays in place.

BadWeatherSaint wrote:
I will be going tomorrow and to every game i can physically manage because i love the Saints.I couldn't give two thumbs about Lowe and Wilde, i certainly wouldn't stop going to watch Saints because of them - they mean as much to me as rugby and croissants.The football may not be good quality atm, and i may be miserable if and when we lose. I'll also be happy in the mental if we win. I haven't got that much money but to those thousands of 'fans' who have stopped coming citing that there's not enough glory, you'll be welcomed inat some rich, soulless prem clubs so good riddance. As long as there are players proud to wear the shirt - which there are - i'll do everything in my power to see us succeed - but i'll also be there if we fail, because i'm a committed fan.COYR

Not sure your getting what people are saying here!

If you wish to paint yourself a super fan, well good for you. Your support is no less or better than the rest on here.

Players proud to wear the shirt? I think you need to wake up to the real world of football players.

For the record I am a committed fan, possible alot longer than you. So committed, that it hurts real bad now, and I hope taking the time to debate on here, may...just may help bring some good fortune to Saints, as the board are not up to the job.

Please remenber supporting Saints is not a competition, and don't be so quick to tell your fellow fans good ridance. We are all in this togehter. It's just we are individuals and are dealing with this in our own individual ways, as the board have brought us to this state of debate and division, and not brought success to the club in any shape or form. I suppose some hurt more than others. The board hope that all show your mindless passion towards Saints..no offense here. Though others are trying to push the board to listern and possible go, and that is there rights as a fan, because the board are technically not doing their job or at least not good enough!

illingsworth should try going to every game when being unemployed, having to pay rent and bills and support a young family. i lost my job 2 months ago so unfortunately i cant go to every game like he thinks people should.i didnt go to the ipswich game and i shall not be going tomorrow for the reason being im going to rotherham and doncaster next week. i am not flush with cash like he seems to be so i have to choose what games i go to. he should try living in my shoes for a week!!

I am getting so fed up with the Echo always trotting out SUPERFAN for a rallying call of the troops. This so called superfan sits in the Kingsland and never sings so how can he preach about filling the ground beacuse if we all did what he does at games then it would resemble a library. There are two main reasons for crowds falling.
1. price
2. Wupes and Co.

I am going tomorrow but only beacuse my son wants to go. I am fed up spending my hard earned cash and no longer enjoying it.

I've bought four season tickets for my family every year for many years - always for the same Itchen North seats. Closing this corner, always popular, noisy and full of familiar faces, was a blow and I decided to pay per match for a while until we decided on a new part of the stadium to call home.Tomorrow is the first home match we shall miss for four years. Somehow, without a season ticket and with the old Itchen community scattered, it's become possible for once just to skip a match.

To choose one of the most profitable parts of the ground for closure seems very odd economics to me - but even worse it shows a complete failure to properly understand the customer. Watching Saints has been depressing enough these past few years and it's even more so without the solace of those familiar faces. I will continue to attend most matches, but I'd be more impressed with the powers that be if they had closed the director's box before they closed a busy part of the ground with demonstrably some of the club's most enthusiastic paying customers.

When last paid £26 to watch the saints is was against Arse-a-nal that was in the prem. Your telling me that they want to charge me £26 for championship football NO DEAL!!!
Have they heard about the credit cunch money is hard to come by as it is. Thats why the fans are not turning up!!! Cockey mafia over here!! get rid of these penny pinchers(Lowe&Wilde)

mr steyne wrote:
illingsworth should try going to every game when being unemployed, having to pay rent and bills and support a young family. i lost my job 2 months ago so unfortunately i cant go to every game like he thinks people should.i didnt go to the ipswich game and i shall not be going tomorrow for the reason being im going to rotherham and doncaster next week. i am not flush with cash like he seems to be so i have to choose what games i go to. he should try living in my shoes for a week!!

I think you are a quality fan. I am now retired with a 120 mile round trip so I can't go to every game and I'm not sure I would - even if I had the money.

There are many things more important than football and doing the best for your family has always got to be at the top of the list.

You must have a really supportive family to allow you "up North" for 2 games

mr steyne wrote:
illingsworth should try going to every game when being unemployed, having to pay rent and bills and support a young family. i lost my job 2 months ago so unfortunately i cant go to every game like he thinks people should.i didnt go to the ipswich game and i shall not be going tomorrow for the reason being im going to rotherham and doncaster next week. i am not flush with cash like he seems to be so i have to choose what games i go to. he should try living in my shoes for a week!!

I think you are a quality fan. I am now retired with a 120 mile round trip so I can't go to every game and I'm not sure I would - even if I had the money.

There are many things more important than football and doing the best for your family has always got to be at the top of the list.

You must have a really supportive family to allow you "up North" for 2 games

I really think this has brought home the deep felt anguish of being a Saints Fan. As a member of the lunatic fringe I thought our points were well made, with no tirade of abuse aimed at the board - sure they got aa mention.

It's far more complicated than anyone at SFC will understand. I was ridiculed on a web site because I mentioned I wouldn't go because the Itchen North was closed. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who missed the place.

I do live miles away (240 to be precise) an it does affect why I don't come to SMS. Friends I used to meet before the game have stopped going - it was a ritual.

Football is dying - SKY TV and unrealistic salaries have changed from the game of the people to the game for the rich and famous.

I bet Ted Bates is turning in his grave...God bless him, he truly was a Saint.

UTS wrote:
Saintly wrote:Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....It makes me sick.100% Spot on with your comments.We are skint yet paying wages on players that will NEVER play !Is it true that the bank where happy to see the overdraft reach £5m which is the limit. Because the financial year next showed the same amount coming in outstanding transfer money from other clubs to us ?The Daily Echo are not innocent in any of this and in particular Adam Leitch has been well and truly in the pocket of Wilde.Its also a scandal that the teflon finance director Dave Jones was leaking confidential financial material to Andrew Cowen and Rupert Lowe over the last two years. This was used by Lowe for pathetic little digs in the Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers.Why at a meeting in November of last year involving major shareholders to discuss the Ranson SISU offer was Lowe telling those present HE had been in dialogue with the bank ? What the hell has it got to do with him as hes merely a shareholder.Lets be honest in all this Wilde and Lowe only returned to salvage their share values. Wilde having bought on tick and Lowe having various mates owning six figure sums that are rapidly goind down the plughole.

UTS,

How do you know certain players will never play? Do you have inside information???

What evidence do you have that Adam Leitch is in the pocket of Wilde?

Where is the evidence that Dave Jones was leaking any information? If you have evidence then present it to the Police and FSA for investigation.

If Lowe and Wilde only returned to salvage the value of their shares then they must save the club from administration, do you have a problem with that?

It is clear from reading these post that we ALL hold Saints close to our hearts. Money is going to get worse for clubs and fans alike for the next few years, but to be honest I am surprised that we have ever dropped to lower-than-dell attendances. The longer we stay in this league the lower our gate will be, I think it will bottom out at around 12k.
All that aside I actually enjoyed the Ipswich game. They are a very good professional team and exposed our weaknesses well, whilst restricting our play as much as possible. Jan has a steep learning curve but seems aware and intelligent. His substitutions were early and accurate, he is qualified and able. I hope he can look at the games we have played so far and eradicate the weaknesses, that he can keep the team playing together, to each others strengths, and that the fans keep encouraging the players rather than destroying what confidence they have built.
As for ticket prices etc, perhaps next season we might see something different. I would suggest that I might be able to buy vouchers as a book, or something similar, £x for 20 games, £y for 15, £z for 10. It is unreasonable for many of us to buy season tickets when we are often either tied to family or work at kick off. That system could and should change to make things better for fan and club.
See you all tomorrow, either at St Mary's or here! COYR!

In summary I think the answer to the question -

Where have all the Saints fans gone?

Is that they are all too busy on the daily echo site, complaining how **** our beloed club is!

simple

above i stated that i wont be going to tomorrows game. ive now managed to scrape the cash together so that i can go. my wife knows how much saints mean to me shes given fags up for a week soi can get a ticket!! up the saints!!!!!!

It's quite a simple equasion really

Poor team
poor manager
no prospects
no money

= no point in going

Shazza (the genuine article, not an imposter) wrote:
In summary I think the answer to the question - Where have all the Saints fans gone?Is that they are all too busy on the daily echo site, complaining how **** our beloed club is!simple

LOL

uksaint wrote:
It's quite a simple equasion really

Poor team
poor manager
no prospects
no money

= no point in going

= you are no fan. Simple, indeed.

I have no problem at all with fans who can't afford to go or think that it’s simply not worth their hard earned and scarce cash. What gets me is the dishonesty of those who are putting their mouths where their money is missing - on a point of "principle", Wilde, Lowe etc etc.

1,000 fans stay away = circa £400,000 that we don’t have to buy/pay that left back we desperately need. Lowe doesn’t give a FF what you thing about him. But the team needs supporters – the only way we can help our team is by paying our money and supporting them (stunning stuff Northam on Wednesday when we were 2-1 down – thank you from one of those who is far too quiet in the Itchen). You either support the team by turning up (if you can afford it) or you stay away and hurt the team. Anyone who hurts the team is, by definition, not a fan, not a supporter. By all means choose to stop supporting Saints because you don’t like the way the club is being run – go and watch Salisbury, Winchester, Totton - or better quality football at a Premier League team, such as Portsmouth - but please spare us from the mealy mouth nonsense that you are still Saints fans who will deign to grace us with your attendance when you have a Board of your choice and a team in the Champion’s league. There will be no shortage of “fans” then. What the team needs is fans now, when it’s tough, when it hurts, when we have no money because only 15,000 turn up at St Mary’s and clubs such as Derby, going through equally tough times, can count on 25,000 plus – real fans, through bad times as well as good. Southampton will get the success it deserves as measured by the number of people who pay to watch them.

Of course Lowe blew it by not investing in taking the club forward after we finished 8th in the Premier League. Of course he hadn’t got a clue with 10 managers in 10 years. Of course, Wilde blew it when he ousted Lowe and installed a regime which ended up with the bizarre spectacle of a board composed entirely of high paid executive directors with not a shareholder in sight – unsustainable nonsense. T’wer ever so with football club chairmen. From time to time fans can influence that – but not a lot and not often. All we can do is turn up, support the team, shout abuse at the board if we wish. But real fans never, ever, starve the team of the money it needs to move forward.

Traceyf wrote:
UTS wrote:Saintly wrote:Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....It makes me sick.100% Spot on with your comments.We are skint yet paying wages on players that will NEVER play !Is it true that the bank where happy to see the overdraft reach £5m which is the limit. Because the financial year next showed the same amount coming in outstanding transfer money from other clubs to us ?The Daily Echo are not innocent in any of this and in particular Adam Leitch has been well and truly in the pocket of Wilde.Its also a scandal that the teflon finance director Dave Jones was leaking confidential financial material to Andrew Cowen and Rupert Lowe over the last two years. This was used by Lowe for pathetic little digs in the Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers.Why at a meeting in November of last year involving major shareholders to discuss the Ranson SISU offer was Lowe telling those present HE had been in dialogue with the bank ? What the hell has it got to do with him as hes merely a shareholder.Lets be honest in all this Wilde and Lowe only returned to salvage their share values. Wilde having bought on tick and Lowe having various mates owning six figure sums that are rapidly goind down the plughole. UTS,How do you know certain players will never play? Do you have inside information???What evidence do you have that Adam Leitch is in the pocket of Wilde?Where is the evidence that Dave Jones was leaking any information? If you have evidence then present it to the Police and FSA for investigation.If Lowe and Wilde only returned to salvage the value of their shares then they must save the club from administration, do you have a problem with that?

Ahh the evidence RE WIlde and Leitch has been on show for the last couple of months Tracey in this newspaper. Hype/Spin by the bucketload and the wanting to 'whitewash' what has gone on before and this whole 'forgive and forget' mantra.

As for Dave Jones and his supergrass activities this is well known im afraid. Im happy to post this knowing that legally im well and truly covered.

Dave Jones has helped rock the boat ever since Lowe was removed in 2006.

The ONLY reason why the two wouldnt want adminstration is because their shares would be worth NOTHING.

UTS wrote:
Traceyf wrote:UTS wrote:Saintly wrote:Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....It makes me sick.100% Spot on with your comments.We are skint yet paying wages on players that will NEVER play !Is it true that the bank where happy to see the overdraft reach £5m which is the limit. Because the financial year next showed the same amount coming in outstanding transfer money from other clubs to us ?The Daily Echo are not innocent in any of this and in particular Adam Leitch has been well and truly in the pocket of Wilde.Its also a scandal that the teflon finance director Dave Jones was leaking confidential financial material to Andrew Cowen and Rupert Lowe over the last two years. This was used by Lowe for pathetic little digs in the Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers.Why at a meeting in November of last year involving major shareholders to discuss the Ranson SISU offer was Lowe telling those present HE had been in dialogue with the bank ? What the hell has it got to do with him as hes merely a shareholder.Lets be honest in all this Wilde and Lowe only returned to salvage their share values. Wilde having bought on tick and Lowe having various mates owning six figure sums that are rapidly goind down the plughole. UTS,How do you know certain players will never play? Do you have inside information???What evidence do you have that Adam Leitch is in the pocket of Wilde?Where is the evidence that Dave Jones was leaking any information? If you have evidence then present it to the Police and FSA for investigation.If Lowe and Wilde only returned to salvage the value of their shares then they must save the club from administration, do you have a problem with that?Ahh the evidence RE WIlde and Leitch has been on show for the last couple of months Tracey in this newspaper. Hype/Spin by the bucketload and the wanting to 'whitewash' what has gone on before and this whole 'forgive and forget' mantra.As for Dave Jones and his supergrass activities this is well known im afraid. Im happy to post this knowing that legally im well and truly covered.Dave Jones has helped rock the boat ever since Lowe was removed in 2006. The ONLY reason why the two wouldnt want adminstration is because their shares would be worth NOTHING.

UTS,

So you have no real evidence that Adam Leitch is in Wildes pocket, you only have your opinion based on articles that you have disagreed with.

Re Dave Jones, I say again, present your evidence of leaked confidential information to the Police and FSA for investigation.

The only reason why Lowe and Wilde don't want administration may well be to protect their shares but so what? If protecting their shares means the club doesn't go into administration then that is a good thing isnt it?

If Saints go into administration will there definately be someone to buy up the assets? What happens if the administrator has to sell the stadium to pay off debts, where would the team play? What players will have to be sold to settle debts? How many more back room staff would have to be made redundant? Administration woul dmean a points deduction, what division would we end up playing in as a result of that?

Traceyf wrote:
UTS wrote:Traceyf wrote:UTS wrote:Saintly wrote:Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....It makes me sick.100% Spot on with your comments.We are skint yet paying wages on players that will NEVER play !Is it true that the bank where happy to see the overdraft reach £5m which is the limit. Because the financial year next showed the same amount coming in outstanding transfer money from other clubs to us ?The Daily Echo are not innocent in any of this and in particular Adam Leitch has been well and truly in the pocket of Wilde.Its also a scandal that the teflon finance director Dave Jones was leaking confidential financial material to Andrew Cowen and Rupert Lowe over the last two years. This was used by Lowe for pathetic little digs in the Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers.Why at a meeting in November of last year involving major shareholders to discuss the Ranson SISU offer was Lowe telling those present HE had been in dialogue with the bank ? What the hell has it got to do with him as hes merely a shareholder.Lets be honest in all this Wilde and Lowe only returned to salvage their share values. Wilde having bought on tick and Lowe having various mates owning six figure sums that are rapidly goind down the plughole. UTS,How do you know certain players will never play? Do you have inside information???What evidence do you have that Adam Leitch is in the pocket of Wilde?Where is the evidence that Dave Jones was leaking any information? If you have evidence then present it to the Police and FSA for investigation.If Lowe and Wilde only returned to salvage the value of their shares then they must save the club from administration, do you have a problem with that?Ahh the evidence RE WIlde and Leitch has been on show for the last couple of months Tracey in this newspaper. Hype/Spin by the bucketload and the wanting to 'whitewash' what has gone on before and this whole 'forgive and forget' mantra.As for Dave Jones and his supergrass activities this is well known im afraid. Im happy to post this knowing that legally im well and truly covered.Dave Jones has helped rock the boat ever since Lowe was removed in 2006. The ONLY reason why the two wouldnt want adminstration is because their shares would be worth NOTHING.UTS,So you have no real evidence that Adam Leitch is in Wildes pocket, you only have your opinion based on articles that you have disagreed with.Re Dave Jones, I say again, present your evidence of leaked confidential information to the Police and FSA for investigation.The only reason why Lowe and Wilde don't want administration may well be to protect their shares but so what? If protecting their shares means the club doesn't go into administration then that is a good thing isnt it?If Saints go into administration will there definately be someone to buy up the assets? What happens if the administrator has to sell the stadium to pay off debts, where would the team play? What players will have to be sold to settle debts? How many more back room staff would have to be made redundant? Administration woul dmean a points deduction, what division would we end up playing in as a result of that?

Sorry Tracey the evidence has been written and there is indeed a rather cosy relationship with the two. Its not based on anything i dont agree with im afraid.

Regarding Dave Jones etc again this is well known but verbal talking cannot be used as evidence.

Certainly Tracey you should wise up and ask how financial related material has been printed by the likes of Charles Sale in the Daily Mail who btw is a close friend of Lowe.

Well maybe there are various people who want to buy the club but are unwilling to pay the unrealistic price that Lowe/Wilde are wanting.

The stadium is basically owned by Norwich Union anyway.

The team would play at SMS as tenants.

This is all tangent stuff to be honest and the bottome line is we need new owner/s. The end of failed lieing incompetent chairman.

PS

Tracey are you happy that Lowe has brought in all the players to date and not Porto ?

UTS wrote:
Traceyf wrote:UTS wrote:Traceyf wrote:UTS wrote:Saintly wrote:Is Illingsworth on Lowe's payroll or in Wilde's pocket?Sorry Nick - you're wrong on this.What you are seeing is the fans response to the supposed 'bright new dawn' - many are now realising they've been well and truly spun.Wilde is now being compared to Lord Lucan on Radio Solent, Lowe is being seen pitchside (QPR) and Poortvliet sounds like he wished he stayed in Holland.We have no money - then we sign Schneiderlin, Pulis, Wootton, and bring in Cork and Pekhart from Premiership clubs - where's the money coming from then?We re-sign Nathan Dyer, who after being given the club's support continues to provide performances that justify his surname.Rumour abounds that Lallana will be one of the departees in January.Don't go blaming the fans for the situations we find ourselves - we do not make the financial decisions...that's a cop out to avoid the real issues.Oooh I'm a better fan than you because I hand over my cash with no questions asked to Rupey Baby....It makes me sick.100% Spot on with your comments.We are skint yet paying wages on players that will NEVER play !Is it true that the bank where happy to see the overdraft reach £5m which is the limit. Because the financial year next showed the same amount coming in outstanding transfer money from other clubs to us ?The Daily Echo are not innocent in any of this and in particular Adam Leitch has been well and truly in the pocket of Wilde.Its also a scandal that the teflon finance director Dave Jones was leaking confidential financial material to Andrew Cowen and Rupert Lowe over the last two years. This was used by Lowe for pathetic little digs in the Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers.Why at a meeting in November of last year involving major shareholders to discuss the Ranson SISU offer was Lowe telling those present HE had been in dialogue with the bank ? What the hell has it got to do with him as hes merely a shareholder.Lets be honest in all this Wilde and Lowe only returned to salvage their share values. Wilde having bought on tick and Lowe having various mates owning six figure sums that are rapidly goind down the plughole. UTS,How do you know certain players will never play? Do you have inside information???What evidence do you have that Adam Leitch is in the pocket of Wilde?Where is the evidence that Dave Jones was leaking any information? If you have evidence then present it to the Police and FSA for investigation.If Lowe and Wilde only returned to salvage the value of their shares then they must save the club from administration, do you have a problem with that?Ahh the evidence RE WIlde and Leitch has been on show for the last couple of months Tracey in this newspaper. Hype/Spin by the bucketload and the wanting to 'whitewash' what has gone on before and this whole 'forgive and forget' mantra.As for Dave Jones and his supergrass activities this is well known im afraid. Im happy to post this knowing that legally im well and truly covered.Dave Jones has helped rock the boat ever since Lowe was removed in 2006. The ONLY reason why the two wouldnt want adminstration is because their shares would be worth NOTHING.UTS,So you have no real evidence that Adam Leitch is in Wildes pocket, you only have your opinion based on articles that you have disagreed with.Re Dave Jones, I say again, present your evidence of leaked confidential information to the Police and FSA for investigation.The only reason why Lowe and Wilde don't want administration may well be to protect their shares but so what? If protecting their shares means the club doesn't go into administration then that is a good thing isnt it?If Saints go into administration will there definately be someone to buy up the assets? What happens if the administrator has to sell the stadium to pay off debts, where would the team play? What players will have to be sold to settle debts? How many more back room staff would have to be made redundant? Administration woul dmean a points deduction, what division would we end up playing in as a result of that?Sorry Tracey the evidence has been written and there is indeed a rather cosy relationship with the two. Its not based on anything i dont agree with im afraid.Regarding Dave Jones etc again this is well known but verbal talking cannot be used as evidence. Certainly Tracey you should wise up and ask how financial related material has been printed by the likes of Charles Sale in the Daily Mail who btw is a close friend of Lowe.Well maybe there are various people who want to buy the club but are unwilling to pay the unrealistic price that Lowe/Wilde are wanting. The stadium is basically owned by Norwich Union anyway. The team would play at SMS as tenants.This is all tangent stuff to be honest and the bottome line is we need new owner/s. The end of failed lieing incompetent chairman.PSTracey are you happy that Lowe has brought in all the players to date and not Porto ?

UTS,

You implied Adam Leitch is in Wildes pocket, written articles about the club do not prove that at all so present your evidence, not that you have any of course.

You have said David Jones has been leaking confidential information, present you proof to the Police and FSA for investigation. You claim spoken words do not count as evidence, what words were spoken and what is your source of these words? Evidence please.

What unrealistic price are Lowe and Wilde wanting for Saints? When have they indicated a price and how much was it?

We certainly need new investment, who is to say a new boardroom would be any better?

How do you know Saints would play at Saint Mary's as tenants? New owners might want the land for another purpose like housing. If the stadium were to be kept would Saints be able to afford the rent?

Given that Wilde recently said in the Echo about how decissions are made as to the buying of new players please present your evidence that prove that to the contrary.

I know a way to increase attendances at a stroke. Lowe to resign; instant 3-4 thousand increase! Or at the very least announce that he’ll become a non-executive unpaid chairman and stop taking money out of the club!

Also reduce the gate prices to a realistic championship level.

We’re still paying prem prices to watch, what is, essentially, last years reserve team.

Our season ticket prices and match prices are still amongst the highest in the league and more than some prem clubs.

They stopped the bus pass this season, but didn’t discount the ticket price, effectively adding £2.60 to the match ticket for the bus users

I think £26 per game is cheap even by Premiership standards.

Not that I'm now willing to pay that much.

York who play in the Conference want over £15 per game.

Sorry Nick but it IS about Rupert Lowe. I vowed to give up my season ticket if he returned to the club.
I don't accept that the stay away fans will be to blame for the ruin of the club. The ruin set in with all the bad decisions that were made by Rupert Lowe.Let him clear his own mess up!