Dell legend Lawrie McMenemy fears for Saints if Wilde bunch don’t win the EGM

The man who led Saints to their greatest day the 1976 FA Cup final success has been asked to sit on the football board constructed by Michael Wilde and his proposed new regime.

McMenemy has only been to St Mary's FOUR times since the stadium opened in 2001 and only once for a Saints match.

But the Dell hero has kept a close eye on events at St Mary's and through his numerous charitable causes in the Southampton area knows all too well the pain and suffering Saints fans have endured in recent times.

And he believes that Lowe and his regime have run out of time.

Indeed, if Wilde loses the EGM and the current chairman stays, McMenemy fears for Saints' future.

"I have been asked that if there was a change of leadership, would I join the football board," he said last night.

"My attitude is, I definitely think there has to be a change from the present regime.

"They cannot argue that they have not had every chance in nine years.

"If people felt I could help out, I will say yes'.

I suppose I could be a link between the supporters and the new owners because, let's face it, most of them would be unknown to us.

"Patrick Trant and Leon Crouch would be the exceptions.

"Patrick is a very passionate supporter of the Saints, he is a natural winner.

"He wants to help bring the glory days back to the club.

"I would be more than happy to work with those sort of people to help put the heart and soul back into the club.

"When it comes to Mr Wilde, to be fair I don't know too much about him, I have met him only briefly.

"His willingness to pay out so much money to try and change things at the club, and his explanations, certainly impress me.

"Mr Crouch is a name I have heard over the years as a passionate, loyal supporter.

"I have only met him briefly, when he was most generous in his support of our FA Cup winning 30th anniversary dinner and Peter Osgood tribute at the Guildhall in April."

McMenemy added: "I don't know what methods the chairman will use politically leading up to the EGM.

"I don't know what people have up their sleeves before the EGM.

"None of that bothers me at all.

"But what I do know is that if the current regime wins the EGM, then the last person to leave St Mary's should, it's sad to say, turn off the lights, lock the door and throw away the key for good."

Though he has not attended games in recent years, McMenemy regularly meets fans as he goes around the area doing his charitable work.

"I mingle and mix with people in the Hampshire area more than most because of my involvement with all the charities I help out," McMenemy said.

"Even this weekend just gone, I opened a summer fete for the Bishop of Winchester and his wife on Saturday.

"I walked around for two or three hours afterwards and I lost count of the people who asked me what on earth was going on at the football club.

"Once again, I was told numerous times that people would not be going or buying season tickets unless things improved.

"Then on Sunday, after I attended a service for Her Majesty's 80th birthday at Winchester Cathedral, I went to a reception where people from all walks of life were telling me exactly the same things."

"Whilst attending the service at Winchester Cathedral, part of the sermon I thought could be transferred to the situation at Saints, when the Dean said arrogance is better replaced by humility'."

Back in the 1970s, McMenemy got to know the Southampton footballing public are not as publicly passionate as some of their northern cousins.

"I once famously said that after we had reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, that people would be dancing in the streets if this was up north," he recalled.

A lady sent me a letter saying we are just as proud of you as anyone in the north would be, we just prefer to dance in the kitchen!' "I learnt to accept what she said over the years.

"The people I meet certainly show as much passion as those in the north.

"So it must mean a lot when over 20,000 people turned on the current board at matches last season.

"A plane was hired to get the message across, the local paper was regularly filled by emails and letters criticising the current regime.

"I just wonder what part of all that the current board don't get?

"At the moment the natives are not dancing in their kitchens, they're dancing with their feet.

"If the current regime manage to win the EGM, I can only see people dancing with their feet and staying away from the ground."

McMenemy went on: "Apart from the obvious major footballing tragedy that of relegation after 27 years in the top flight other things have made me so disappointed, such as watching the break-up of the friendships of most of the board.

"When I was there some of those people were prominent businessmen in the city of Southampton and passionate supporters travelling with their families to most away games before they eventually joined the board.

"To see the break-up of that group, who must have known each other for 40 years as business colleagues and friends, must be hear-breaking for some of them.

"But such are the feelings of the so-called rebels they have been driven to come out and say they have not been happy with the way the club has been run.

"Recently, there have been statements from some of those directors who are staying on board.

"One was from Michael Withers, who was instrumental in bringing the PLC people to the table and, subsequently, got a directorship, saying that personalities should be kept out of things.

"In all my time in football, it seems to me that supporters are not bothered who the chairman is as long as the football side of things is going well.

"In my early days, I don't think anyone knew who was on the board, and that's the way the directors wanted it.

"Things are different now, particularly when it comes to PLCs. People expect to see a business board, but it is when it spills over into football matters that problems arise.

"I'm trying to keep personalities out of things, but the fact is that nine seasons ago the club became a PLC at a time when Saints were already a well established top flight club and were respected throughout the world of football.

"At the end of that nine-year period, thanks to a good finish to the season from George Burley and his team, we reached midway in the Championship. In addition, we have had nine managers in those nine years.

"The people who took over nine years ago should look at what has happened on and off the field.

"Stability and continuity are two words I use regularly when explaining to people how we had the success we had in our early days in a similar way to the success enjoyed by Ipswich and Nottingham Forest.

"We are told now that any change would be disruptive. But in the last year we have seen around 30 players and ten coaching staff leave the club.

"Even since last season ended, the club doctor, the phsyio and the academy director have all left."

"In addition to directors Withers and Mike Richards coming out to support Lowe, Tory party treasurer and Saints shareholder Jonathan Marland has also backed the chairman.

"Another statement made by a supporter of the board, the gentleman who apparently looks after the Tory party finances, typically said that the chairman has done a good job financially and that he got us the new stadium," McMenemy said.

"I know for a fact that some of the members of the council in Southampton five years ago would like to think they played a part in it as well.

"But it's not all about finances.

"Southampton were always financially sound when I was there. Although I believe he is now backing the wrong side, credit for that should be given to the then finance director, Guy Askham.

"Remember, we had the smallest ground and the lowest income of anyone in the top flight, but we still made sure the balance sheet was right.

"I'll also mention the excellent academy we apparently have now. Regular supporters don't need to be reminded how good our conveyor belt of players was at The Dell.

"The simple fact is we had to produce our own players we couldn't go out and buy any.

"Admittedly, we didn't have a radio station to boast about and I'm not sure about the quality of our half-time pies, but I do know we did attempt to play good, one touch football which people wanted to come and see.

"In addition to the radio station and catering, I see we're also told that we've had Bon Jovi and Elton John concerts things people wouldn't have dreamt about 10 years ago.

"With due respect, I'm sure supporters would prefer to pay to see the likes of Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney!

"A lot of credit has been given to the financial side.

"The Walcott deal was absolutely excellent, but surely it should not be forgotten how much was spent on the likes of Delgado, Chala, Van Damme for very little reward."

McMemeny also added: "I'm confident from what I'm told that there are people who will be willing to come forward and invest if the current regime leave.

"What investment has there been from the current regime in the last five years?"

"What investment has there been from the current regime in the last five years?