A DIRECTOR of the auction firm charged with selling Saints hero Peter Rodrigues's treasured FA cup winner's medal has expressed his sympathy for the star but confirmed the sale would still be going ahead.

The football legend is said to be "devastated" after discovering his daughter Amanda, who lives in Bolton, intended to sell the precious memento won in the 1976 final when Saints beat Manchester United.

Experts believe the gold medal will fetch between £8,000 and £10,000 when it goes under the hammer at Northampton on October 1.

Peter, who captained the cup-winning side, gave the medal to his daughter as a keepsake ten years ago. He is understood to be trying to take legal action in a bid to halt the sale.

He was unaware the medal was being put up for sale until the catalogue of the auction containing the medal had been produced.

Director of the Sportingold Auction House, John Dee, said: "At the moment, the sale is going ahead. Naturally, I have considerable sympathy for Peter."

Peter's other daughter, Tanya Lee, who lives in Netley Abbey, also wants the auction of the medal halted.

She said: "As far as I'm concerned this is not something you should do. I definitely want the medal to remain within the family.''