TORY party treasurer and Saints shareholder Jonathan Marland has thrown his support behind long-time friend Rupert Lowe.

The Salisbury-based businessman and St Mary's season ticket holder told the Daily Echo that fans "are lucky" to have Lowe as chairman.

"Very rarely these days do you get someone of the quality of Rupert Lowe running a business," he said.

Marland was one of five people to underwrite the part-financing of St Mary's back in 1999 along with directors Paul Thompson, Michael Withers and Lowe himself, plus Collins Stewart.

As a result, Marland has more than 250,000 Southampton Leisure Holdings shares and will very definitely be voting for Lowe at the EGM on July 3.

"Rupert has done a terrific amount for the club," said Marland, who has known Lowe for over three decades since their mothers went to school together in north Wales.

"He's done well financially.

"He got a new stadium for £32m that's great, when you look at how much Wembley will end up costing.

"We've got great facilities, the stadium has helped to bring about regeneration of that part of Southampton.

"I have every confidence in George Burley's ability to turn it around on the pitch.

"He's got a proven track record and I'm told he's got a really good relationship with Rupert.

"Fans in this country have got used to people owning clubs and throwing a lot of money at things.

"That has made things tough for Rupert.

"I would not blame him for giving it all up.

"He earns very little money from what I can see and he gets nothing but grief.

"Michael Wilde seems to be playing a ridiculous game if he wants to run the club, why doesn't he just make all shareholders an offer for their shares and be done with it?"

Marland, who spoke to Lowe last Sunday, added: "Rupert is a fighter. I know Rupert is an honest man the club is in the hands of an honourable person.

"Rupert has got a deep sense of responsibility, and fans need to remember that.

"I have been involved in business all my life and very rarely these days do you get someone of the quality of Rupert Lowe running a business.

"We are lucky to have him at the club.

"You don't get any funny business with him.

"He was in fighting mood when I saw him at the weekend.

"I can see him winning the EGM. I can't see anybody coming out and siding with Wilde."

Marland continued: "He's had a hard time with managers it wasn't his fault that Strachan left, it wasn't his fault that Hoddle left.

"Rupert is a man of integrity and he got treated poorly by Hoddle."

Regarding his part-underwriting of the share issue seven years ago, Marland said: "I did it because I'm a supporter, I didn't do it to make money.

"You don't buy shares at a football club to make money, though I have made a little bit I admit.

"We have a nice family club I like the atmosphere at St Mary's, I don't feel threatened at all inside or outside the ground, and I do think that's remarkable.

"Thanks to Rupert we are financially sound unlike a lot of other clubs who have gone down."