Southampton call EGM over future

Southampton will hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 16 May to resolve the club's ownership dispute.

Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, who control 46% of the shares in parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings (SLH) plc, had requested the EGM.

The pair, who are both former Saints chairmen, have called for most of the current board, including football club chairman Leon Crouch, to stand down.

Lowe and Wilde could take over if the EGM rules in their favour.

A statement from the club said the meeting would start at 1130 BST on 16 May - 12 days after Saints' final Championship game.

606: DEBATE I wonder if Crouch will concede power to Lowe without the expense of an EGM? Dazza354

It said it would be: "For the purposes of considering resolutions to remove each of Leon Adrian Crouch, Charles Leo Hoos, Patrick Murray Trant and Keith St John Wiseman as directors of the company and to appoint each of Andrew Edward Cowen, Rupert James Graham Lowe and Michael Gordon Wilde as directors of the company."

Lowe and Wilde had requisitioned the EGM on 1 April - giving the club 21 days to announce a date for the meeting.

Lowe, who wants to return as plc chairman, chaired the club for almost a decade until his removal in 2006 - when he was succeded by Wilde, who would take over for a second spell as chairman of the football club.