Rupert Lowe has been criticised for appointing Sir Clive Woodward

Crouch, who bought a 10% share in the club on Monday, has also hit out at the appointment of director of football Sir Clive Woodward.

He said: "I support George Burley and his team and the position we are in is not due to them.

"It is down to the chairman, the board of directors and their decisions."

The building and engineering magnate continued: "I don't think anyone is happy with how things are going, including the vast majority of supporters."

Crouch reserved special criticism for former England rugby coach Woodward, who was appointed last season when the Saints were relegated from the Premiership.

He said: "I don't know why we spend �750,000 a year, as I understand it, on someone who knows nothing about football.

"It puts added pressure on the manager when you have someone looking over your shoulder like that.

"He should have learned in the lower leagues and proved that he could transfer his skills from rugby to football. He is not at a club like Southampton on merit.

"All Southampton fans think he should not have been taken on and given the salary he has.

"To bring him in in the middle of a relegation battle, alongside Harry Redknapp made no sense at all and you could say the situation is the same this season.

"I am a passionate supporter of Southampton Football Club who doesn't like the way we are moving forward and I felt that, as I was in a position to do so, I wanted to get involved and try and make things better."