KEVIN BOND admitted he jumped at the chance to link up with Harry Redknapp at Saints - saying Portsmouth did nothing to keep him.

Saints' new first-team coach yesterday returned to the club where he made 174 appearances as a player between 1984 and 1988 and declared: "It was the number one club I could have gone for."

Bond still lives in Southampton and said it was an easy decision to make given the situation at Portsmouth.

"It wasn't a decision to make at all - I was kept very much in the dark over future plans, I wasn't really spoken to or given any indication at all that they wanted to keep me on," he said.

"I didn't hesitate and all things considered it was a fantastic opportunity. I wasn't told anything, I wasn't given any reassurances at all. I understand that I was in a perilous position given that a new coach would come in."

Bond, 47, described the great success he helped achieve at Pompey as the "best phase of his footballing career" and said he understood some of the upset of the Fratton Park fans.

"It was an absolutely wonderful two-and-a-half years and I really enjoyed it," he said.

"It's a shame things have come to an end and we have got to move on.

"Portsmouth have got good players, they have done fantastic and got the best out of themselves nearly all of the time. They have got a lot of character in the side.

"I do understand the feeling in Portsmouth - they live for their football club. But for me, I've got a family like everyone else and I need to work.

"I had no future at Portsmouth and to take that with an opportunity like this I consider myself very fortunate.

"With me only having a contract until the end of the season, I had no desire to be out of work.

"We have to move on, we are footballing people. Being in football means you move from club to club."

Bond also defended Redknapp's move across the south-coast divide, stressing that the offer from Saints came totally out of the blue.

He said: "Harry had absolutely no idea. He had come to a full-stop at Portsmouth and had to move on.

"Circumstances changed at Southampton, and because things moved so quickly people have put two and two together and come up with all sorts of things.

"People want to criticise Harry for coming here because it fits well with them thinking it was set-up and believing what they want to believe.

"I honestly know that had this not come up, he would have taken his time and got back into football when the right opportunity became available."

Bond, who was first brought to Pompey by Alan Ball during the latter's second stint as manager in 1998, believes Redknapp became worn down by the off-field wrangling at Portsmouth and insists his new job with Saints will recharge him.

He added: "Harry got worn out at Portsmouth. Probably the director of football thing and the manner it happened was a bit of a surprise to everyone.

"He would have liked to have been a part of that decision-making process. He thought 'I can't have any more' and he was worn out.

"Harry can't sit down for five minutes. He might want a break, but when you say a change is as good as a rest that would probably fit in with Harry.

"By his own admission he became a bit edgy. There had obviously been a few moments between Harry and the chairman and it must have a wearing-down effect.

"Things were a bit up and down at times and you learned to live with it. But when it did come to a head, it came to a head quite quickly and it coincided with the new guy coming in.

"I know how Harry works and Harry knows me well. We will just get on with the job. He is enjoyable to work with."