Ted Bates Statue Gone!

Leon Crouch - 'Ted Bates was - and in many ways still is - Southampton Football Club and we owe it to him to build a fitting statue'

The £100,000+ bronze statue, which was financed by the Ted Bates Trust, was erected as a tribute to the man who served Southampton for 66 years.

It was officially unveiled on Saturday evening in front of 450 guests and ex-players.

But it became the subject of mass criticism from Saints fans who rightly complained it looked nothing like Ted Bates and was out of proportion with short legs and long arms, it was described as an Abomination; the statue has now been removed.

Acting Saints chairman Leon Crouch held talks with the Ted Bates Trust on Tuesday and revealed the statue would be removed with a view to being altered or completely re-worked.

Speaking to Saintsfc.co.uk here is what Leon Crouch had to say on the matter 'Ted Bates was - and in many ways still is - Southampton Football Club and we owe it to him to build a fitting statue,'

'With hindsight some things could have been done differently, but this is not a time for recriminations. Let's just sit down and put things right.

'I'm a perfectionist and I want it to be just right.`Mr Southampton' deserves that.'

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