Bates statue taken down by Saints

Tez Arne · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:36 pm

Quote:

Southampton have pulled down the statue of Ted Bates a week after it was unveiled because fans complained it looks nothing like the Saints legend.
Saints fans criticised sculptor Ian Brennan's Ł102,000 statue, a tribute to ex-Saints player and manager Bates, who died aged 85 in November 2003.

The existing statue may now be altered or completely reworked.

Chairman Leon Crouch said: "Ted was Southampton Football Club and we owe it to him to build a fitting statue."

Crouch added: "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."

Brennan has apologised to supporters and insisted that he would have liked more time to work on the project.

He said: "This was more than a commission, it was a passion. I'm sorry some supporters don't like the result."

Bates spent over 60 years at Saints and critics of the statue claim the body, legs and arms are out of proportion and the facial likeness is a poor one.

One angry Saints fan, Dave Hunt, told BBC Sport: "It's an absolute abomination and the worst thing is, it looks more like former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric.

"A lot of people have put in a lot of effort to raise the money for this and I think they deserve better. Certainly, Ted deserves better."

Critics claim the statue of Bates is out of proportion

The statue was unveiled on St Patrick's Day by Bates' widow Mary and it stands in front of St Mary's Stadium.

A club statement said: "Although the Trust and Ian Brennan share the disappointment of the fans over the finished version they are upset with some of the over-the-top comments.

"They are hurtful to the family and to those who worked so hard on the project."

Bates' daughter Jackie said: "Dad's statue represents an artist's impression of Ted.

"It was commissioned by the Trust with the club's support and if they feel it needs to be removed for further work, then we are perfectly happy for this to happen."

twmcat · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:51 am

And they paid a guy over a hundred grand Shocked