Football:Happy Saint Le Saux signs on

Football:Happy Saint Le Saux signs on

As expected, Le Saux went south as part of a deal that took England’s left-sided player Wayne Bridge to Stamford Bridge for £7m.Le Saux (34), who has signed a two-year contract with the Saints, said: ‘I’m delighted with the move, it’s another phase of my career and I’m really looking forward to it.

I’ve spent a couple of days with Southampton officials and they’ve made me really welcome and now I’m looking forward to paying them back on the pitch.’Hopefully I can fulfil the two years and have the chairman begging me to sign a new one! I’m delighted that Southampton have shown confidence and belief in me.

I feel the decision I’ve made is a good decision.’Naturally it would be wrong of me to pretend there isn’t some sadness.

I’ve had some happy times at Chelsea, I’ve had 11 years there.

That club has been part of my footballing life for 70 per cent of it.

I had a good relationship with the players there and the fans there so obviously I’m upset.’But I’m looking forward to winning over the Southampton supporters now and I’m delighted with the fact I’ve got two years with them.’Speculation that Le Saux was on his way out of Chelsea broke last Friday, the day he returned to London from the Blues’ training camp in Italy.National papers have linked Chelsea with a host of summer signings since the recent takeover of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.Skysports News also ran a sportsbar saying that Le Saux had walked out on Chelsea in Italy.Said Le Saux: ‘That’s not true.

Chelsea paid for a flight home and an overnight stay in a hotel for me – do you think they’d have done that if I’d walked out on them?’No, I’d been on standby at the training camp all week to leave at anytime and that’s what happened.’I’ve had two good periods at Chelsea and I’ve got many memories.

I’ve had a fantastic relationship with them and I’ve achieved a lot more than I really could have hoped for.’Chelsea are in a great position now with the finance available to them from Mr Abramovich.

They are acting quickly to get a team together to win the championship; they are in a very good position now.’I feel very comfortable and excited by the decision I’ve made to join Southampton.’Le Saux played 312 games in two spells for Chelsea and, of course, also won 36 England caps.

He left St Paul’s FC in Jersey to go to Stamford Bridge as an 18-year-old in 1988.

He moved on to Blackburn Rovers in 1993 and two years later won the Premiership title with Alan Shearer and Co at the late Jack Walker’s Lancashire club.He moved back to Chelsea for £5m in August 1997 when he went on to win Coca-Cola Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup and Charity Shield medals.Le Saux added: ‘That’s behind me now and I’m looking forward to embarking on a new career at Southampton.

Great things are happening for them; they are in the UEFA Cup this season and that’s their reward for a fantastic season last year when they reached the FA Cup final.’I am joining a club where I have always felt at home ever since I used to come over to soccer camps here when I was a young teenager.’The club is probably in a better shape than at any time since then and I am really looking forward to being part of things here.’

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