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Crouch shrugs off talk of £1m loss (From This is Hampshire)
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Crouch shrugs off talk of £1m loss
5:02pm Thursday 9th July 2009
FORMER Saints chairman Leon Crouch has shrugged off talk that he has lost about £1m as a result of Markus Liebherr’s takeover.
The New Forest businessman stumped up an undisclosed sum to help pay the April wage bill of players and staff after Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC entered administration.
Crouch has also refused to confirm or deny the persistent rumour that he also paid the £500,000 non-refundable fee that enabled Pinnacle to win their period of exclusivity at the end of May.
Asked about the potential seven-figure loss – which followed on from losing his £1.6m investment in SLH shares following administration – Crouch told the Echo last night: “It’s not the right time or place to talk about figures.
“I’m just really pleased someone has come along and concluded the deal – someone who wants to buy the club and appreciates what we have got at Southampton Football Club.
“It’s a great opportunity to take this wonderful family club back to where it belongs.”
Asked about his donation towards paying the April wage bill, Crouch – football board chairman at St Mary’s between February-July 2007 and the second half of 2007/08 – said: “No one wants to spend money on things you don’t really want to.
“But I’m undoubtedly a Saints fan and I wouldn’t want the club to fold.
“I have done my best to try and avoid that and hopefully I have helped keep it going until the buyers came along.
“The only way is up now.”
Regarding Liebherr’s takeover, he added: “It’s fantastic news for Saints fans, the staff and the players – it really is great news.
“It’s been a long time coming, but we are there now and hopefully a great future for Southampton Football Club lies ahead.
“It’s been a very difficult time, but true fans always believe in the club.
“We have great facilities at Southampton Football Club, we have the tradition and the history and I always believed someone would come along and rescue us.
Was he surprised it had taken this long to conclude a deal?
“Yes and no,” he stated.
“There’s a lot of people who would like to buy a football club, but when it gets to the stage where they actually have to produce funds they turn out to be time wasters.
“The administrator has to go through all these things and treat them all on their merits.
“So, in many ways, it’s not surprising it has taken quite a long time.
“A lot of people want to buy football clubs, but you have to produce the money and be able to invest going forward.
“Hopefully the Swiss will do that.”
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Your Say YourHampshire
sholingred, southampton says...
5:19pm Thu 9 Jul 09
The Exiled Saint, NEWPORT/Salop says...
5:21pm Thu 9 Jul 09
However, Mr Crouch, if it’s true that you made a private donation from your personal resources to help SFC pay the bills, during this recent nightmare, then as a Season Ticket Holder and supporter I’d like thank you.
I wish you well in the future, but whilst I have doubt of your love for SFC, and I am aware this may painful, might I suggest that perhaps this might be a good time to take a respite break from frontline football matters.
Give yourself time to recharge your batteries and come along as a fan in a private capacity and enjoy the game without the all the hassle and stress of the past years.
Once again, thank you for “buying the time” and thus enabling the club we both love survive.
The Exiled Saint, NEWPORT/Salop says...
5:24pm Thu 9 Jul 09
My apologies.
Richard Hill, Lillestrom, Norway says...
5:26pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Thank you Markus!
Thank you Nicola!
Thank you Mark F!
Thank you Mark W!
Thank you Players!
Thank you Staff!
COYR!!!
yarcosaint, says...
5:29pm Thu 9 Jul 09
The Exiled Saint wrote:assuming (and hoping) you actualy meant no doubt
It would be churlish of me to say a £1million isn’t what it used to be. However, Mr Crouch, if it’s true that you made a private donation from your personal resources to help SFC pay the bills, during this recent nightmare, then as a Season Ticket Holder and supporter I’d like thank you. I wish you well in the future, but whilst I have doubt of your love for SFC, and I am aware this may painful, might I suggest that perhaps this might be a good time to take a respite break from frontline football matters. Give yourself time to recharge your batteries and come along as a fan in a private capacity and enjoy the game without the all the hassle and stress of the past years. Once again, thank you for “buying the time” and thus enabling the club we both love survive.
but agree with what you say i have known Leon for more than 35 years and can say he is an ardent fan and always has been
worried of e sussex, says...
5:58pm Thu 9 Jul 09
yarcosaint wrote:here here, top man Leon.
The Exiled Saint wrote: It would be churlish of me to say a £1million isn’t what it used to be. However, Mr Crouch, if it’s true that you made a private donation from your personal resources to help SFC pay the bills, during this recent nightmare, then as a Season Ticket Holder and supporter I’d like thank you. I wish you well in the future, but whilst I have doubt of your love for SFC, and I am aware this may painful, might I suggest that perhaps this might be a good time to take a respite break from frontline football matters. Give yourself time to recharge your batteries and come along as a fan in a private capacity and enjoy the game without the all the hassle and stress of the past years. Once again, thank you for “buying the time” and thus enabling the club we both love survive.assuming (and hoping) you actualy meant no doubt but agree with what you say i have known Leon for more than 35 years and can say he is an ardent fan and always has been
Northamer, Crabbswood Lane says...
6:07pm Thu 9 Jul 09
yarcosaint wrote:Leon, I dont think there is a saints fan out there that does not appreciate what you have done over the years & not just now! We probably don't know the half of it! Many thanks because I have no doubt you have played a part in saving our club!
The Exiled Saint wrote: It would be churlish of me to say a £1million isn’t what it used to be. However, Mr Crouch, if it’s true that you made a private donation from your personal resources to help SFC pay the bills, during this recent nightmare, then as a Season Ticket Holder and supporter I’d like thank you. I wish you well in the future, but whilst I have doubt of your love for SFC, and I am aware this may painful, might I suggest that perhaps this might be a good time to take a respite break from frontline football matters. Give yourself time to recharge your batteries and come along as a fan in a private capacity and enjoy the game without the all the hassle and stress of the past years. Once again, thank you for “buying the time” and thus enabling the club we both love survive.assuming (and hoping) you actualy meant no doubt but agree with what you say i have known Leon for more than 35 years and can say he is an ardent fan and always has been
OSPREYSAINT, Southampton says...
6:14pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Saint Madcap, Horndean says...
6:36pm Thu 9 Jul 09
You ARE a true fan of the club.
Tye-Dye, Veil Nebula says...
7:35pm Thu 9 Jul 09
As has been posted, you now have become a Saints legend, this has been our darkest time possibly ever, you were there when it mattered.
Thank you
Scruffygirl94, Chandlers Ford says...
7:46pm Thu 9 Jul 09
You really are a true Saints hero now !
jonnie reggae reggae, eastleigh says...
7:47pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Condor Man, Southampton says...
7:51pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Saint Moogue, Middlesex says...
8:25pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Tirau Dan (NZL), Tirau (NZL) says...
9:29pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Thanks Leon
True Saints Man.
saintforever, SOUTHAMPTON says...
10:01pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Saintsteve, Southampton says...
10:23pm Thu 9 Jul 09
gh said.
Sunny Saint, Essex says...
10:30pm Thu 9 Jul 09
I hope and pray that one day I will have the honour & Pleasure of meeting you. I salute you for your outstanding contribution to our (your) great & glorious football.
club.
Sir we owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.
God Bless ya Guvnor :-)
Rowester, Bitterne Park says...
10:36pm Thu 9 Jul 09
SW11_Saint, London says...
10:52pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Well done Leon - the club owes you a huge debt of thanks for keeping it going in the darkest hours, and I hope you enjoy many many years of great football at SMS.
Stormjuice, Perth, Australia says...
2:43am Fri 10 Jul 09
sw: vote-stay
muzzz63, Southampton says...
8:16am Fri 10 Jul 09
Saints Mike, Southampton says...
9:30am Fri 10 Jul 09
I feel Markus Liebherr should offer this gentleman the role of honorary life president, because if it was not for him, Markus Liebherr would have had a club to buy.
We the fans should let that be known to Markus Liebherr, he says he cares what the fans think, I hope he proves it, by offering Leon Crouch the offormentioned role.
RupertLoweIsGod, Alton says...
10:11am Fri 10 Jul 09
Redhat, Southampton says...
10:36am Fri 10 Jul 09
you're a true Saint!!
flower49, Holbury says...
11:37am Fri 10 Jul 09
Saints Mike wrote:I would like to second that. Two seasons ago players and then manager Nigel Pearson were doing a lap of honour round the pitch, we all waited at the front afterwards waiting for players to come out so we could clap and cheer the club we love. Players came out and most hurried past not stopping, ok, we will wait for Nigel Pearson,but he was busy doing Sky interviews, who did come out to talk to the waiting fans was Mr Leon Crouch. He spoke to everyone, saying that he hoped he still had a job next season, but said if he didn't he would be in the stands with us supporting the club he loves. He has done more than that,he has saved it for us and hopefully generations to come. Thank you Leon. SW. JUMP- SHIP,(we are glad he never)
Leon Crouch did what he felt he had to do. He bailed us out, he paid the staff wages and he probably paid the half a million for the Pinnacle joker to get on Sky Sports, he kept the club afloat. I feel Markus Liebherr should offer this gentleman the role of honorary life president, because if it was not for him, Markus Liebherr would have had a club to buy. We the fans should let that be known to Markus Liebherr, he says he cares what the fans think, I hope he proves it, by offering Leon Crouch the offormentioned role.
essexsaint, rainham says...
3:08pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Chandlers Ford Saints, Chandlers Ford says...
3:58pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Captain Swing, Southampton says...
5:28pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Chandlers Ford Saints wrote:Because he's an idiot.
he's always been a saints legend, don't why he's had so many doubters
Every utterance, action and gesture he has made with regard to Southampton Footbal Club has been a disaster.
OK, he means well (great!), but he was party to running this club into an unsustanable debt.
He then allied himself with the Pinnacle deal, which turned out to be a debacle, which delayed the current take-over deal. So full marks for sticking his hand in his pocket (especially for the Ted Bates statue), but minus several million for good judgement.
As for those of you who would like to shake his hand, forget it. Staff at St Mary's will tell you how that not only was he unfriendly, he routinely failed to acknowledge their presence.
rijo12, Southampton says...
1:36am Sat 11 Jul 09
Captain Swing wrote:I've been told by someone who's worked for him he suffers from LMS - little man syndrome!!!
Chandlers Ford Saints wrote: he's always been a saints legend, don't why he's had so many doubtersBecause he's an idiot. Every utterance, action and gesture he has made with regard to Southampton Footbal Club has been a disaster. OK, he means well (great!), but he was party to running this club into an unsustanable debt. He then allied himself with the Pinnacle deal, which turned out to be a debacle, which delayed the current take-over deal. So full marks for sticking his hand in his pocket (especially for the Ted Bates statue), but minus several million for good judgement. As for those of you who would like to shake his hand, forget it. Staff at St Mary's will tell you how that not only was he unfriendly, he routinely failed to acknowledge their presence.
BrixtonSaint, London says...
11:45am Sat 11 Jul 09
saintpeter48, southampton says...
12:21pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Saints Mike wrote:well said that man, leon crouch should be offered an honourary position at sfc.
Leon Crouch did what he felt he had to do. He bailed us out, he paid the staff wages and he probably paid the half a million for the Pinnacle joker to get on Sky Sports, he kept the club afloat. I feel Markus Liebherr should offer this gentleman the role of honorary life president, because if it was not for him, Markus Liebherr would have had a club to buy. We the fans should let that be known to Markus Liebherr, he says he cares what the fans think, I hope he proves it, by offering Leon Crouch the offormentioned role.
lawrie mac should have his photo put back where it belongs in the history of sfc and the photo of the train should be posted on to that smug, pink cheeked, hockey loving p*ick, sfc should also take out an injunction on lowe so he cannot come within 30 miles of st marys. the only way is up, come on you reds.
Saints Mike, Southampton says...
5:51pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Red & White Never Blue, Southampton says...
8:02am Sun 12 Jul 09
rijo12, Southampton says...
12:14am Mon 13 Jul 09
RupertLoweIsGod wrote:Consider suing!! I'd be too embarrased to admit I'd be suckered by a third rate conman. LC is now part of the clubs history & thats where he should remain.
Crouch should consider suing Fialka. The guy was clearly a scammer and its cost Leon a fortune.
ramptonfromsouthampton, Muswell Hill, London says...
6:40pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Leon Crouch
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db_3, says...
5:12pm Thu 9 Jul 09
That'll be Pee-Wee Fialka then.