Charlton target Antti Niemi has been a favourite of the Premiership club's goalkeeping coach for almost SEVEN years.

Saints goalkeeper Niemi continues to be linked with a transfer window move to The Valley next month following his recent criticism of the "mess" at St Mary's.

Club chairman Rupert Lowe tried to pour cold water over the story last night, saying: "I have not heard anything from Charlton, not a word. And they would have to agree a fee before they could speak to Antti, so there is absolutely nothing in it.

"I really don't want to comment on every little bit of transfer speculation. We are focusing on the hunt for a new manager but we will not be rushed into it. It is important to get it right."

But the Niemi rumours have only intensified due to former Leeds goalkeeper Mervyn Day's admiration for the Finnish international, who spent a month on loan at Charlton in 1999.

The 33-year-old never played for Charlton, where he was loaned from Glasgow Rangers after falling out with Dick Advocaat, the then manager of the Ibrox giants.

He was always likely to be behind veteran Dean Kiely, 35, in the goalkeeping pecking order at the Valley and signed for Hearts in December 1999. But Day, who joined Charlton's coaching staff in May 1998, has been impressed with Niemi ever since seeing him train with the south London club.

Niemi's agent Richard Cody revealed: "Mervyn Day is a massive admirer of Antti's. He has been since they worked together at Charlton when he was on loan there and has never made any secret of that.

"At the moment there's been no discussion and I don't know where the story has come from, but, if it happens, that would be fantastic.

"Antti is not happy with what is happening at Southampton. In the summer, he wanted to support the club and was certainly not looking to get away like a lot of people.

"He was hoping that Harry Redknapp would turn things around, so you can understand why the manager leaving has changed things."