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Statue sculptor: Five inches will make difference

7:54am Wednesday 21st March 2007

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The man who sculpted the controversial Ted Bates statue wants to make amends - by adding five inches to the legs.

Warsash artist Ian Brennan told the Echo he would pay for the alterations himself - but said he would not change any facial aspects of the controversial £112,000 monument.

Brennan, right, admitted to being "mentally shattered" after spending 18 months working relentlessly to a tight deadline to complete the project.

Since the unveiling last Saturday, he has been the subject of abuse from fellow Saints supporters after his e-mail address was released on an internet messageboard.

Brennan has promised to make amends by working for nothing to ensure a satisfactory statue for Ted Bates is completed.

But doubts remain whether he will be given the chance to do so - especially as a lot of the negative comments regarding the statue are to do with a supposed facial resemblance to former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric.

Brennan told the Echo: "When I saw the statue on the floor in the foundry it looked as it's supposed to, but the plinth has had the effect of an optical illusion.

"I think that can be remedied by adding another five inches to the legs".

Full interview: see today's Daily Echo.

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Your Say YourThis is Hampshire

lionel, Redbridge says...
9:16am Wed 21 Mar 07

Well, I suppose I'd be glad to have an extra five inches, even on my legs.....
But if the sculptor thinks that will make the statue look better, why didn't he make it like that in the first place?

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paul, eastleigh says...
9:33am Wed 21 Mar 07

to be honest another 5 meters added to the legs wouldnt make enough of a difference to make it a fitting tribute to "Mr Southampton" Ted Bates. the whole thing is out of proportion and the only way in my opinion it can be resolved is to take it down and start again

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The Farmer, Woolston says...
10:19am Wed 21 Mar 07

The statue could be rememdied by removing five foot nine of the sculptor from this project, any half measues won't do. Don't short change us again.

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Bored Housewife, Southampton says...
10:56am Wed 21 Mar 07

I wish my husband had an extra 5 inches.

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Martin Orford, says...
1:34pm Wed 21 Mar 07

Just been down to St Mary's to see Little Ted in the flesh so to speak, and he's great!!!
People have said that this statue doesn't represent the club, but it does so perfectly; quirky, slightly wonky and yet lovable and entertaining for all the wrong reasons. Do we really want to destroy the only truly iconic structure in Southampton? It's things like this that make our club so much more fun and interesting than all the rest. SAVE LITTLE TED!!!!

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george, says...
2:43pm Wed 21 Mar 07

I think the little statue would slot in well at centreback, his heavy stlye would match the rest of the teams play!

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Scouse-In-Exile, Southampton says...
4:44pm Wed 21 Mar 07

I think the statue is hilarious, and sums your club up perfectly....
"High on expectations, short on delivery"

Little Ted must stay!

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mike, says...
6:12pm Wed 21 Mar 07

lets stop worrying about this stature and lets worry about getting back in to the premership play offs

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avid saints fan, says...
6:14pm Wed 21 Mar 07

the statue is not there to be hillarious, it is suppose to be a tribute to a great man. this statue does not do a legend justice and in my opinion the sculpture has had his chance and blew it. its a nice gesture from leon crouch to offer to pay out of his own pocket for a new one

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Geoff Smith, soton says...
6:29pm Wed 21 Mar 07

its a disaster, even Stevie Wonder woulnt like to see this.What about the sculpturing of the clothes,he has made a GREAT man look as though he has slept in them all night, even his shoes look as though the soles are coming off.Come on, stand up and admit we need to melt this down, Not add another few inches or so, as this would just make it a bigger mess than it already is.Get a sculptor who will do a bronze statue that we, the Southampton supporteres and his family can all be very proud of
He deserves far better than this

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Ewell, Ewell says...
8:30pm Wed 21 Mar 07

This makes him sound like he is so hard done by with regard to his email address being released to an internet message board. Did he not actually put the address on the internet himself? His work has been proven to be **** so why give the Charlatan another go?

http://www.sculptor-iangb.com/

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MarkP, MOS says...
10:04pm Wed 21 Mar 07

Will do the extra bits for nothing , wow!!!!
Surely he should give back all the money he has taken its not what was asked for.

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dave, millbrook says...
4:53pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Brennan's obviously not good enough so let's get someone who is! Sorry if it hurts his feelings but this is more important than that!!!

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