SAINTS' acting chairman, Leon Crouch, is to be removed from his post at a special board meeting of the club PLC board next week, the Daily Echo has learnt.

Last night, the club confirmed that a special board meeting had been called for Monday, but declined to explained what it was for.

However, when contacted by the Daily Echo, Crouch confirmed he had received the summons and said he was "gutted" by the move.

The life-long Saints fan has been invited by e-mail to attend a meeting of the PLC board at St Mary's on Monday morning. The aim of the meeting, says the e-mail, is to discuss "the removal of Leon Crouch as director and chairman of the club."

He revealed that initially his fellow directors had wanted a telephone meeting, but Crouch, together with his supporters, were determined to hold the meeting at the stadium to deal with the issues face to face.

But he conceded there was no way he would win the vote at the meeting which takes place at 9am on Monday.

Crouch said: "I have only two non-executive supporters on the PLC board - Keith Wiseman and Patrick Trant - who will vote for me. That means there will be five against. I am bound to lose. It is all over.

"I am gutted it has come to this. I have spent the last nine months working tirelessly for this club representing the fans, but I have been a thorn in their (the executive board members) side.

"I opposed the mass exodus of staff at the club, we are losing too many good people. I knew it would be a real battle and it has been. I am devastated. I have spent the last 18 months battling these people."

Full story in today's Daily Echo