SOUTHAMPTON FC chairman Michael Wilde aired his views publicly on his link with Jersey Football Association this week.
Interviewed in the Club’s programme ahead of the Saints’ 2-0 Championship win against Norwich on Tuesday, Wilde stated that he is keen to encourage Channel Islands youngsters to join the Saints’ Academy set-up while also trying to generate further revenue for the club by teaming up with ‘football-starved’ rich businessmen in the islands.
Wilde said: ‘Jersey and Guernsey have both produced Saints players of international repute, in the form of Graeme Le Saux and Matthew Le Tissier, and it would be fantastic to be able to discover the next big thing.
‘I am a resident of the Channel Islands and have had links with the Jersey Football Association for a number of years.
‘Using these links, Southampton FC has been able to develop a close relationship with Jersey’s brightest young footballing talent.
• Picture: Michael Wilde (left) with JFA president Ricky Weir and members of the JFA Centre of Excellence
