REBEL former Saints director Ian Gordon has "thrown his lot in" with Michael Wilde in a bid to recapture the "family spirit" he believes the club has lost during Rupert Lowe's regime.

The well-known Southampton-based solicitor "cannot see how the unity that is so vital can be achieved" if Rupert Lowe stays.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, Gordon said the huge turnover of staff at St Mary's recently both on and off the pitch has led to a loss of morale.

Gordon was a member of the club's football board until he, Keith Wiseman and Brian Hunt were voted off at an EGM at the beginning of this month.

As he was never on the PLC board, Gordon's official relationship with Saints is now over.

Though he agreed to sell 500,000 of his SLH shares to Wilde earlier this year, he retains 348,000 which he will vote against Lowe on Monday.

Gordon said: "The family spirit has been sadly lacking in the past two or three years and I am certain has been a major factor in our losing our position in the top league.

"That's a point highlighted by Mick Channon and Lawrie McMenemy in their recent Daily Echo articles.

"I am also very concerned that so many long-standing loyal members of staff have left the club in the recent past, which has produced the loss of morale through all sections of the club.

"I have thrown my lot in with Michael Wilde because I believe he can restore the family' spirit. If Rupert is successful on the third of July I cannot see how the unity that is so vital can be achieved.

"The number of fans delaying renewing their season tickets gives proof of this.

"To have the majority of the stadium chanting Rupert out' can hardly be conducive to the club being successful on the field.

"If Michael wins it will create a huge swell of enthusiasm for the coming season and a belief among the supporters that the club is on its way back.

"His consortium have new ideas and the prospect of backing that has simply nor been available in the past."

For the full interview, don't miss today's Daily Echo.