The Saints Trust are joining with other supporters organisations to take up Leon Crouch's challenge.
This site has not always been a fan of Leon Crouch's tenure as Chairman, however it has to be said that he is admired for the way that in the Club's darkest hour he has stepped up to the plate and not only put his own money where his mouth is, but worked hard to encourage others to do the same.
At a meeting of supporters groups on Thursday night the ex Saints chairman threw down the gauntlet for these fans to rally together and raise the sum of £250,000 to buy enough time for the Administrator to put together a rescue package for the Club.
Those fans groups have taken up the challenge and have agreed to unite in a further bid to raise money from a collection at the Burnley game.
Lawrie McMenemy himself will lead off the collection backed by a team of well known ex Saints players, at a time when many fans are bemoaning the fact why they should dig deep when many of the playing squad are taking lucrative salaries, many supporters will be heartened to know that once upon a time Southampton Football Club had players that played not only for themselves but because they loved the club, some came from this area, some didnt but chose to make it their home.
The last bucket collection raised £5,600, the aim on this one is to at least double this total preferably treble it, if every Saints supporter in the crowd just gave £1 then the £250k target would be over 10% on its way.
But if that £1 was the minimum donation, then those that put in more and those in the corporate areas could boost it in a way that we can only dream of at present, if that was the case then £50,000 could be achieved.
Of course many will ask the following two questions.
1. Why should I put in my hard earned cash when underperforming players are being paid more in a month than I earn in a year.
SADLY THAT IS THE NATURE OF TODAYS GAME AND HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE LAST TIME THE CLUB WAS IN THE THIRD TIER, WE CANNOT SIT BACK AND USE OVERPAID PLAYERS AS AN EXCUSE, WE HAVE TO SAVE THIS CLUB, IF EVERYONE GIVES A LITTLE THEN ITS ACHIEVABLE.
2. Why should I put in again, after all I have turned up for the game, did so against Palace and contributed then.
AGAIN SADLY FOOTBALL CLUBS HAVE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE WHO ARE QUITE HAPPY TO TURN UP IN THE GOOD TIMES, BUT NOT THE BAD, SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, AT CLUBS ACROSS THE LAND, THE HARD CORE REGULAR SUPPORTER HAS TO SUBSIDISE THOSE THAT ARE ONLY WILLING TO TURN UP FOR THE BIG GAMES.
Please support this collection, this club needs your support more than ever and WILL fold without it.