Southampton

Southampton
I may have saved Saints - Perrin Perrin snubed by Monaco ace Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin has suggested he could have kept Southampton in the Premiership if Saints had appointed him. Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe approached former Marseille boss Perrin after Gordon Strachan's departure. Paul Sturrock got the job but Perrin told the Portsmouth News: "They went for somebody else, it was no big deal. "Who knows what might have happened had I gone there? Maybe they wouldn't be in the position they find themselves in." Portsmouth were in free-fall when Perrin was appointed to take charge of the last seven Premiership matches of last season. He managed to stop the rot with two wins and two draws to keep Pompey up. In contrast, Harry Redknapp, who became Saints third manager last season when he took over from Steve Wigley, was unable to reverse the club's fortunes. Perrin admitted: "The chairman of Southampton contacted me about the job, but they chose somebody already in England. "I certainly didn't lose any sleep about not going there. "I came to work for Portsmouth and I will give my best for Portsmouth."

Redknapp asks Crouch for loyalty
Southampton manager Harry Redknapp has pleaded with Peter Crouch to stay at the club with Liverpool reportedly close to signing the striker for £5m. "I can understand someone like Peter if they get a big club coming in for them," Redknapp told BBC Radio Solent. "It's hard because the money he'd earn in the Premiership would far outweigh what he'll earn in the Championship. "I'm hoping he will stay with us," said Redknapp of the 24-year-old Crouch who made his England debut on Tuesday. "In an ideal situation, if come January we're mounting a challenge, he will stay with us, give us a bit of time and see how it goes," added Redknapp. Crouch scored 12 league goals for Southampton despite the club being relegated to the Championship. The 6ft 7in striker made his international debut as England beat Colombia 3-2 in the United States. Liverpool already have five strikers on their books - Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes, Neil Mellor, Milan Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

West Brom turn down Niemi chance
West Brom have rejected the chance to sign Southampton keeper Antti Niemi. The 33-year-old Finnish international is set to leave St Mary's following the Saints' relegation, but Baggies boss Bryan Robson is looking elsewhere. Niemi's agent Richard Cody said: "I can confirm I spoke to West Brom about Antti, but Bryan has made it clear he wants a younger keeper for his squad. "He may get a younger keeper, but he will not get a better one," he told the Birmingham Express and Star. Celtic have emerged as favourites to sign Niemi, who joined Southampton from Hearts in 2002.

St Juste considering his future
Darlington winger Jason St Juste will decide his future inside the next two weeks when he returns from holiday. St Juste, 19, is out of contract and has been linked with a move to Southampton, but has had other offers. His agent Ian Flanagan told Quakers' website: "Jason wants a few weeks to think things through, but I don't quite know where he's going to go. "He does have various options and heard all the rumours but I told him to get away, chill out and relax."

Blayney unlikely to join Brighton
Brighton boss Mark McGhee is unlikely to sign Southampton goalkeeper Alan Blayney on a permanent basis. The 23-year-old spent the end of last season on loan at Albion but McGhee feels he may be too expensive to keep. He told the Brighton Evening Argus: "I have never been confident we will sign Alan because I have always felt he may need more money than we can give him. "We could do what we did last year to save us money, and go with Michel Kuipers and one of the young lads." John Sullivan and Richard Martins are the teenage shot-stoppers waiting in the wings for their chance.

Saints reject £5m bid for Crouch
Southampton have confirmed they have turned down a bid - believed to be from Liverpool - for striker Peter Crouch. Saints chairman Lowe refused to say whether it was the Reds who tabled the offer but he did reiterate the club's desire to keep hold of 6ft 7in Crouch. "There has been a lot of interest in Peter Crouch and we have had an offer which we have turned down," said Lowe. Crouch, 24, made his England debut in the 3-2 win over Colombia on 31 May and scored 16 goals for Saints last season. Lowe told the club's official website: "We want to keep the squad together and the relegation clauses in players' contracts mean we do not need to sell. Our destiny remains in our own hands." Southampton could struggle to hold onto their prize asset after they were relegated from the Premiership. But manager Harry Redknapp insists he wants Crouch to spearhead the club's immediate return to the top-flight and that a season in the Championship will not harm his England prospects ahead of the 2006 World Cup. "If we sell him it sends out all the wrong messages," "I'm not going to get into any sort of fee we might accept for him as if I do people will think I want to sell him. "It would be better for Peter to stay at Southampton and play rather than go somewhere like Liverpool and be on the bench."

Lowe denies Phillips Celtic talk
Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has moved to quash rumours of a Celtic bid for striker Kevin Phillips. Celtic manager Gordon Strachan signed Phillips for £3.25m when in charge of Southampton and has been linked with another move for the player. "I have read the rumours but we have not received any formal offer for Kevin Phillips," Lowe told the club website. "And in any case the reported figure of £700,000 would not accurately reflect his value." Phillips, 31, scored 13 goals for the Saints last season but could not help them avoid relegation. Celtic have also been repeatedly linked with Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi, but the St Mary's club have put a £2m value on the Finnish international. Strachan has yet to make any moves in the transfer market since replacing Martin O'Neill at the start of the month. But new Celtic assistant boss Garry Pendry has assured supporters that new faces are on their way. "Everyone seems to recognise that it's maybe time for a bit of a change at the club and, with two or three players having left already, I'm sure it won't be long before we start bringing some in," said Pendry. "As Gordon said, the major players here have carried this club for the past few seasons now and I think there's a realisation through the place that there's a need there to get them a bit of help. "There are players we have in mind and I can assure the supporters that Gordon is already working very hard with the board towards getting them to Celtic Park."

Suitors Celtic warned by Saints
Harry Redknapp has admitted that Kevin Phillips and Antti Niemi want to leave Southampton but has warned Celtic they will not buy his players on the cheap. Former Saints manager Gordon Strachan has been linked with both players after taking over at the Glasgow club. "It seems as though Kevin and Antti don't want to play in the First Division," said Redknapp, who says Celtic have yet to be in touch. "But I won't be giving guys away on the cheap, that's for sure." West Bromwich Albion manager Bryan Robson has already rejected an approach from That has increased the possibility of the 33-year-old Finland international returning to Scotland, where he previously played for Rangers and Hearts. The 31-year-old Phillips had previously been a target for departing Celtic manager Martin O'Neill and could be tempted by Champions League football with Celtic following Southampton's relegation. "We haven't had contact from Celtic at all about the two players," Redknapp told the Evening Times. "Gordon is welcome to pick up the phone, but I haven't heard from him at all. "If people want to go and you get the right money, what can you do? But I will be looking for decent money. "The goals Kevin Phillips will score could help a Premiership team enjoy a good season or a team in Scotland win the championship. "I've got plenty of players here I would be happy to sell to Celtic - I'd even drive them up to Glasgow myself. "But no manager wants to lose his best players and Phillips and Niemi come under that bracket."

Southampton dismiss Morris report
Southampton have denied reports they are lining up a bid for Millwall midfielder Jody Morris. "We have not made any move for Jody Morris," Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe told the club's website. The 26-year-old Morris joined Millwall on a two-year contract just over a year ago, having previously played for Chelsea, Leeds and also for Rotherham. Lowe also stressed there had been no contact from Tottenham over England international striker Peter Crouch.

Phillips considers Saints future
Southampton striker Kevin Phillips will hold talks with chairman Rupert Lowe to determine his future at St Mary's. The 31-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Saints since their relegation from the Premiership in May. Phillips' agent Jon Smith said: "Kevin is very happy there. We have to have those talks with Rupert. "Kevin believes he is a Premiership player but by the same token he loves Southampton, the fans and was part of the team that went down." Smith added: "It has been handled in the right way, Rupert will decide what he wants to do and I think something will happen in the next two or three weeks. "Kevin wants to play Premiership football and feels he has 15 to 20 goals a season in him. "He's 31 and would like to continue playing in the Premiership. "But he doesn't want to be seen leaving them when when they've just gone down. It's difficult but it will be resolved in about two to three weeks."

Brighton rule out Blayney signing
Brighton have ruled out a move for Southampton keeper Alan Blayney who ended the season on loan at the club. "We would take him in a minute, but they require a fee and we can't afford a fee for a keeper at this stage," boss Mark McGhee told the club's website. First-choice stopper Michel Kuipers is progressing well after surgery, as are Adam Virgo and Rochard Carpenter. "They are all fine," McGhee added. "Michel's flying and will have no problem coming back for pre-season."

Midfielder Redknapp 'to retire'
Boss Harry Redknapp's hopes of bouncing Southampton back into the Premiership are set to be dealt another blow by the announcement of son Jamie's retirement. BBC Sport understands that Jamie, 31, will be forced to concede defeat in his battle with a knee injury. He had visited the Colorado clinic of specialist Dr Richard Steadman, who is believed to have advised him to quit. Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp made 17 appearances for Saints after arriving from Tottenham last January. Redknapp junior admitted that he was having to play through the pain barrier as he tried unsuccessfully to keep his father's Southampton side in the Premiership. He joined Southampton on a free transfer in January with a contract only until the end of the season, but was hoping to stay and play an integral role in trying to regain the club's Premiership status at the first time of asking. Redknapp's career began as a trainee at Bournemouth - where his dad Harry was manager - before he joined Liverpool as a 17 year-old in January 1991. In his 11 years at Anfield he made 310 appearances, including 38 as a substitute, before joining Tottenham on a free transfer in July 2002. Just as they had towards the end of his time at Liverpool, injuries hampered Redknapp's appearances at White Hart Lane. In two-and-a-half years at Tottenham he made only 53 appearances in all competitions, including 11 as a substitute. Redknapp picked up 17 England caps and scored one goal for his country.

Saints boss dismisses exit rumour
Harry Redknapp has denied reports that he could be heading for the exit door at Southampton if Antti Niemi, Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch leave. "The story is rubbish. I have not heard a thing on any of those players," the Saints boss told his club's website. "I am hoping we don't have to sell any of them because we need our best players to get back in the Premiership. "If any do go I would need to talk with the chairman about how we replace them but we have not had that discussion."

Lowe cools Phillips switch talk
Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has rubbished rumours which suggest striker Kevin Phillips could be moving to south coast rivals Portsmouth. Reports suggested that Pompey would offer cash plus Ricardo Fuller for the 31-year-old striker. "It is tittle tattle. We have not heard anything from Pompey at all," Lowe told Saints' official website. Phillips, who has won eight England caps, joined Southampton from Sunderland for £3.25m in August 2003. He has scored 27 goals for the club in 57 appearances. Phillips' agent Jon Smith has said that six or seven clubs are interested in the striker - with Celtic boss Gordon Strachan also keen to sign him.

Injury forces Redknapp to quit
Southampton's former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31, because of a long-term knee injury. Redknapp, who won 17 caps and also played for Liverpool and Tottenham, had visited a specialist in America who is thought to have advised retirement. "He's been forced to stop or he could have ended up a cripple," his father Harry told the News of the World. "It's been a hard decision but he has had to put his long-term health first." Redknapp made 17 appearances for Saints after arriving from Tottenham last January on a free transfer to play for his father. He only joined on a deal until the end of the season but had hoped to help the side return to the Premiership following their relegation. Redknapp's career began as a trainee at Bournemouth - where Harry was manager - before he joined Liverpool as a 17 year-old in January 1991. In his 11 years at Anfield he made 310 appearances, including 38 as a substitute, before joining Tottenham on a free transfer in July 2002. Just as they had towards the end of his time at Liverpool, injuries hampered Redknapp's appearances at White Hart Lane. In two-and-a-half years at Tottenham he made only 53 appearances in all competitions, including 11 as a substitute. Redknapp scored one goal in his 17 appearances for England.

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