Lowe replaced as Southampton chairman

Rupert Lowe has resigned as chairman of Southampton, along with four other board members, as part of a sweeping change to the club's board.

Michael Wilde has been appointed as new chairman and has promised "exciting" times ahead at St Mary's after the club's long-running boardroom power struggle came to an apparent end.

Lowe resigned this afternoon, with Ken Dulieu, Jim Hone, Lee Hoos, Patrick Trant and Leon Crouch coming in with Wilde as chairman.

In a statement, Wilde was quick to promise fans an immediate review of the club and hinted at handing extra funds to manager George Burley, whose position is not under threat.

He said: "Clearly we have a great deal to do, particularly in the pre-season period. We have set out how we mean to manage this great club in an open and accessible way.

"We will commence an immediate review of each aspect of the business and will be speaking urgently to George Burley to establish the resources he needs in both the short and medium term.

We would also like to thank fans and shareholders alike for the support they have shown us during a very testing time."