Crouch defends his Saints regime

Former chairman Leon Crouch has said Southampton would be a top six Championship club this season if he was still at the helm.

Crouch stepped down last May after major shareholders Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde returned to the club.

"We had a good manager (Nigel Pearson) and the fans were coming back," Crouch told BBC Radio Solent.

"We had young players playing well and I think we would have pushed on and been up in the top six."

Pearson also left St Mary's in May after leading the club to Championship survival, to be replaced by Jan Poortvliet.

But the Dutchman resigned last week, with Saints deep in a relegation battle after having to rely on young players while the experienced members of the squad were loaned out to cut costs.

And Crouch is in no doubt the club would also be in ruder financial health if he was still in charge.

"I had started to run the club myself with the mandate of the board," he said.

"I had the support of the bank, Norwich Union and Deloittes.

"I believe the club would be in a much better financial situation had I still been in charge instead of Rupert and Michael.

"They have done some cost-cutting measures but the fans don't want them at the club.

"They are not prepared to come through the gates and pay the money to watch this football that is not winning games.

"You need to play football that attracts the punters through the gates."