Harry Redknapp has made crystal clear his first priority as Saints boss: Premiership survival.

In another day of drama at St Mary's, the man who left Saints' bitter south coast rivals Portsmouth just two weeks ago replaced Steve Wigley and immediately issued his plans. "If we can keep this team in the Premiership we'll be delighted. It's a massive challenge," he said.

It is still only early December, but Saints are already onto their third manager of the season, fourth of the year and eighth since Rupert Lowe became chairman in 1997.

At a packed St Mary's press conference it was revealed:

Redknapp has signed an 18 month deal;

The 57-year-old first met Lowe to discuss the job at the chairman's farm on Monday evening;

Wigley was axed as head coach - but chose to leave the club after turning down Redknapp and Lowe's offer to stay on in a coaching role;

Redknapp is set to raid former club Portsmouth to make ex-Saint Kevin Bond his assistant;

Lowe accepted his last two managerial appointments had been mistakes and admitted the board shouldered the blame for a poor 12 months.

Redknapp's arrival has been warmly welcomed by Saints fans, although Pompey fans and chairman Milan Mandar-ic have voiced their fury at his move to their fiercest rivals.

But the new Saints boss was in defiant mood and looking to the challenge ahead.

He insisted he walked away from Portsmouth proud of what he had done for the club and with his head held high.