Second Ted Bates statue unveiled

The new Ted Bates statue is by sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn

A second statue of football legend Ted Bates has been unveiled in Southampton - replacing a previous statue that fans said resembled comedian Jimmy Krankie.

Southampton Football Club unveiled the original £112,000 tribute to the former player, manager, director and president last year.

But after much criticism that the artwork was out of proportion and not a true resemblance, it was removed.

The new statue at the city's St Mary's Stadium cost a further £120,000.

Chairman Leon Crouch said he was proud to have the new statue on display.

He said: "It was an embarrassing episode, mistakes happened, it wasn't very good and something had to be done.

Fans said the first Ted Bates statue bore little resemblance

"So the old one was taken down and now we have unveiled a fitting tribute to Ted Bates and hopefully he's up there looking down and smiling."

Ted Bates - known as "Mr Southampton" - was with the Saints for 66 years until his death in 2003, at the age of 85.

Saints fan and sculptor Ian Brennan apologised to fans after the original statue was compared to Jimmy Krankie and former Portsmouth and current Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric.

The new statue, by sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn, was unveiled by Mr Bates' daughters Jackie Jarvis and Jo Bates, son-in-law Robert Jarvis, grandson Steve, 19, and granddaughter Sam, 10.