Return to 1997 CHRISTMAS Index
Return to 1997 CHRISTMAS Index
By Simon DunkleyAs the autumn weather worsens and December's approaches, Christmas and the festive season loom on the horizon. The Southampton Football Team and Southampton Plc will be forgiven for feeling contrasting emotion as 1997 fades out. The Saints avoided relegation once more in April, after much nail biting, thus ensuring Premier Football at the Dell for another season. Currently Southampton are holding their own in the top division of English football. However, the chairman Rupert Lowe and the board of directors of the newly formed stock market listed company won't shed any tears as we wave goodbye to the old year.
Ever since the reverse take over by Rupert Lowes' Bristol based company, Southampton Plc has attracted unwanted media attention. Supporters' hostility reached a crescendo in October following the screening of the B.BC' Southern Eye' Television program, which investigated the various, take-over bids on offer at the time. It accused the board of accepting a deal that would benefit their personal bank accounts rather than the club's.
Rupert Lowe and his fellow directors can expect the rough ride to continue in December when the Government's task force on football, headed by ex Tory MP David Mellor, arrives at the Dell. As part of its tour of the nation's leading clubs, Mellor has been outspoken in his condemnation of events surrounding the take-over on his Radio 5 programme. He is quoted in The Times newspaper (20/11/97) accusing the Board of being “heavily incentivised by Mr. Lowe” for accepting his offer in the face of city backed deals which offered to inject larger sums of money into the club.
The story will run and run - yet may merely serve to undermine the Fans' confidence in the Chairman and Directors. LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD.”
The Football Team's disappointing start to the new campaign continued through August, reaching a nadir in September with Saints stuck right at the bottom. Things looked glum and the loss of influential midfielder Jim Magilton to Sheffield Wednesday compounded supporters disquiet with all aspects of the club management. However, Dave Jones, the new manager, has dramatically turned things around. October and November brought crucial league wins over West Ham United (3-0) Totenham Hotspur (3-2) Everton (2-0) and Barnsley (4-1). This has pushed the team into a respectable mid table position.
Though the season is only a third gone there has been much activity in the transfer market. Jones has off loaded players who are surplus to requirements and bought in new signings. Magilton went voluntarily. I am sure the manager would have preferred him to stay. Christopher Warren was sold to Bournemouth. Neil Maddison returned to his natïve north-east, to Middlesborough. Micky Evans teamed up with former Blackburn Rovers manager, Ray Harford, at West Bromwich Albion and the unfortunate Mark Taylor has been recruited by Mohammed Al Fayed's Fulham. Jones has been very astute in his dealings. He signed the ageing but hugely experienced midfielder, Kevin Richardson from Coventry. The tireless Gangley Carlton Palmer arrived from Leeds for one million pounds and proven striker David Hirst from Sheffield Wednesday became the club's record signing at £2 million.
Coincidentally this deal followed hot on the heels of `The Southern Eye' broadcast. It is no coincidence that the team's results improved following these excellent signings which have proved many sneering cynics wrong.
With the new manager's team taking shape, the return from injury of Matthew le Tissier and the storming form of leading scorer Kevin Davies in attack, the fans can expect a greatly improvement on this year's form. However, the board who may have prospered earlier in the year may not in 1998, Santa's surprises can prove to be unpleasant ones.
Merry Christmas to you all. See you in the New Year.