RNS Number:1755T
Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC
12 December 2003

                                                         Friday 12 December 2003


                         Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC

                     Appointment of Non-Executive Director


Southampton Leisure Holdings Plc ("the Company" or "Southampton") today
announces the appointment of Paul Thompson as a Non-Executive Director of the
Company with immediate effect.

Mr. Thompson, aged 51, is a Chartered Accountant and is currently a director of
a number of private companies.  He was one of the founders of Sanderson Group
Plc in February 1983 and was its Chairman for over twelve years until January
2000.  Recently Mr. Thompson has been Chairman of West Bromwich Albion Plc from
December 1999 to May 2002, when they achieved promotion to the Premier League.
Mr. Thompson owns 156,000 ordinary shares in Southampton Leisure Holdings Plc,
amounting to 0.55% of the Company's issued share capital.

Commenting on the appointment Rupert Lowe, Chairman of Southampton, said;

"I am delighted that Paul Thompson has agreed to join the Board.  He will
enhance the existing Board with both his business and football experience, and I
am looking forward to working with him."

Paul Thompson commented;

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing
development of the Club as a Director of the holding company.  The Club has the
five main ingredients for success - excellent supporters, a great stadium, a
very good squad of players, a very good manager and a very capable and
experienced Board of Directors.  I have great admiration for the progress which
the Club has made during Rupert Lowe's chairmanship since 1997."

For further information:

Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC                              Tel: 0870 2200 190
Rupert Lowe - Chairman

The following additional information is provided in accordance with the AIM
Rules:

Current Directorships of Paul Thompson:

Highfield Electronics Limited
Highhouse Limited
Rydale Limited
Moorgate Hall Limited
Towngate Holdings Limited
Blueridge Limited

Past Directorships within the last 5 years:

West Bromwich Albion Plc
The Football League Limited
Sanderson Group Plc
Sanderson Pacific Limited
Eagles Plc

Paul Thompson:

(i)       does not have any unspent convictions in relation to indictable 
          offences;
          
(ii)      has not been declared bankrupt or entered into any individual 
          voluntary arrangements with his creditors;

(iii)     has not been a director of any company which has been placed in 
          receivership, liquidation, administration, been subject to a voluntary 
          arrangement or any composition or arrangement with its creditors 
          generally or any class of its creditors whilst he was director of that 
          company or within the twelve months after he ceased to be a director 
          of that company;

(iv)      has not been a partner of any partnership at the time of or within 12 
          months preceding any compulsory liquidation, administration or 
          partnership voluntary arrangements of such partnership;

(v)       has not been a partner of any partnership at the time of or within 12 
          months preceding a receivership of any assets of such partnership;

(vi)      has not had any of his assets subject to any receivership; and

(vii)     has not been the subject of any public criticism by statutory or 
          regulatory authorities or has ever been disqualified by a court from 
          acting as a director of a company or from acting in the management or 
          conduct of the affairs of any company.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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