Matthew Le Tissier will once again be an employee of Southampton Football Club and that is great news.
There are few players that can claim to be a bigger legend for Southampton Football Club than Matthew Le Tissier, Terry Paine perhaps, even Mick Channon, Ron Davies & Rickie Lambert almost but not quite, Ted Bates & Lawrie McMenemy from a managerial view point, certainly in the past 60 years it would be hard to name anyone more to rival him both in terms of games played, goals scored and his contribution to both the club and community since his retirement.
So it is great news that he has become an official ambassador of the club. His new role, which will sit alongside his existing commitments with Sky Sports, will include him becoming involved with the club’s work in the community, as well as its activities around the world.
Chairman Ralph Krueger said:
"I’m extremely pleased that Matt has agreed to accept our offer of becoming an official Club Ambassador.
"Matt’s history as a Saint needs no introduction, he has epitomised the club ever since he joined us as a schoolboy in 1985.
"Southampton Football Club means so much to Matt, so I’m looking forward to seeing him officially represent us through our work in the local community, our expanding commercial activities and around the world as we spread the message of the great work we do at our club.”
It is great to see that the powers that be in Southampton FC recognise just how much Matt has contributed but also what he means to Saints supporters. In truth he has always been a club ambassador, keeping the club's profile high through his work with Sky sports at our lowest ebb, always doing things for the community, even when the way he was being treated must have upset him.
Then Chairman Nicola Cortese did not consider Matt to be an asset and banned him from entering St Mary's along with another club legend Francis Benali, something that told me how much disdain that man had for our club, it's history and it's supporters, sadly some sat back and accepted that due to promises of Champions League football etc.
That act particularly rankled with me then and still does and therefore I am especially happy to see this latest appointment going some way to righting a wrong.
As a club we have always neglected our history, perhaps that will now change, I certainly hope so.