SAINTS chairman Leon Crouch and three other non-executives stormed out of a PLC board meeting at St Mary's after losing a vote to elect a new director.

Crouch, Patrick Trant, Keith Wiseman and Brian Hunt all left the meeting together shortly after the PLC board had convened at St Mary's.

The Daily Echo understands they were unhappy at commercial manager Andy Oldknow being elected to the PLC board.

And the largest Saints fans group, the Saints Trust, is now deeply concerned the board split "It would appear that the club is now under the control of a small clique which is something the Trust stood up against almost a year ago," said vice chairman Brian Bennett.

The vote to elect Oldknow was tied at 4-4 with PLC chairman Ken Dulieu using his casting vote in Oldknow's favour.

Dulieu, chief executive Jim Hone, operations manager Lee Hoos and finance director David Jones had all voted for Oldknow to be voted on.

As a result, there are now four full-time executives on the PLC board - Hone, Hoos, Jones and Oldknow - and five if you include Dulieu, who is not a full-time employee but who draws a salary.

With the exception of Jones, none of the others hold any Southampton Leisure Holdings shares.

With Hunt retiring after the meeting after 19 years as a director - Oldknow was voted on in his place - there are only three non-execs left on the PLC board.

They are Crouch - the club's second largest individual shareholder with almost 10 per cent of the stock - Trant and Wiseman.

That is in contrast to Michael Wilde's Planning for Success' manifesto published ahead of his takeover in June, 2006.

In the manifesto - which Hone said in the club's annual accounts last October was a "roadmap' for the purpose of restoring Southampton FC to its former glories" - it clearly states that the PLC board should comprise three executives and six non-execs.

A year ago there were six - but since then Paul Thompson, Wilde and Hunt have all left and have not been replaced.

The new-look board's make-up has been heavily criticised by the Saints Trust, the largest Saints fans group with around 1,600 members.

Bennett said: "The current make-up and balance of the PLC board is not what we were promised by the incoming board.

"It would appear that the club is now under the control of a small clique which is something the Trust stood up against almost a year ago.

"Rest assured that given time, these internal squabbles will soon filter down to the pitch and ultimately tarnish the good name and reputation of our football club.

"The current board need to explain to the supporters how this set-up is in the best interests of the club and how this helps us achieve our goal of regaining our status in the Premiership."

A Trust statement added: "We are deeply concerned that the board membership now goes against the principles and promises of the manifesto and beyond that, the guidelines for good corporate governance.

"Reports suggests the board has split into competing cliques when the manifesto clearly stated We will be open, honest and caring. We will not tolerate internal politics or cliques' of any kind.' "At this point in time this looks a very hollow promise!

"And let's be clear, this was not solely a Wilde manifesto, but a roadmap' signed up to by all on the current board.

"The current make up of five paid executive directors and three non-executive directors on the SLH Plc board is clearly at odds with the promises made in the manifesto.

"The manifesto recommended a non-executive chairman, three executive directors and up to six non-executive directors.

"The current make-up does not resemble this in any way, shape or form."

The Trust statement continues: "Another question also has to be asked of the PLC board, which is when and why the non-executive Chairman, Ken Dulieu, became a paid executive chairman?

"Similarly the question must also be asked as to why Thompson, Wilde and Hunt have not been replaced with independent non-executive directors when they stepped down.

"That would have made the PLC board resemble something like that we were promised a year ago."