James Beattie has given his clearest signal yet that his St Mary's career is coming to an end.

The star striker has claimed that chairman Rupert Lowe is prepared to sell him for the right price - and hinted he could be ready for a move.

Beattie, who has been linked with moves to Everton and Aston Villa in January, also revealed that he came within a whisker of leaving the club in August.

He said: "If the chairman is prepared to sell me then I've got to have a look at it, although I've had six great years here.

"I've been good for the club and the club has been good for me and it would be a very amicable split if we were to go our separate ways."

Beattie added: "The chairman's stance has always been that if he gets the right offer then I can leave.

"In the summer I think he was very close and on deadline day he got an offer that suited but he wouldn't sell me because it was too late to get a replacement.

"It annoyed me a bit because the chairman was trying to hold out for as much money as he could. I suppose that's the way it is, we're all assets aren't we?

"This has happened to me twice now, all this transfer speculation. You're moving here, you're moving there, it does do your head in a little bit, whatever you say.

"My dad's been in and had a word with the chairman.

"He wanted to hear about the situation first hand. I think my dad got a little annoyed in the summer with how things were handled."

Man United 3 - 0 Saints

Other scores from the top clubs in the South

Portsmouth 3 - 2 West Brom

Bournemouth 2 - 1 Carlisle

You can read a full match analysis in Tonight's Pink and Monday's Sport in the Daily Echo