MATT Le Tissier has called for a clear-the-air meeting with Saints’ chairman Nicola Cortese.

The footballer-turned-pundit had accused the Italian of having an “ego problem” after the controversial sacking of Nigel Adkins.

But Southampton’s executive chairman has hit back, saying in an interview today that the negativity from the former England man was not beneficial for the club.

After Cortese’s interview, in which he insisted anyone with Saints’ best interests at heart has a place at the club, Le Tissier said he had agreed with a lot of what had been said about the situation at St Mary’s.

But the Sky Sports pundit accused the Southampton supremo of lying about him, and being “disrespectful” to Adkins, who was immediately replaced by Argentine ex-Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Speaking on Twitter, Le Tissier, who has a season ticket at St Mary’s which he insisted he paid for, said: “Must be honest, a lot of what (Nicola Cortese) said made sense, but still no thanks to Nigel. Disrespectful.”

“Oh, and two blatant lies when speaking about me! I have met him and he has criticised me in the past, accused me of asking for free tickets I recall.

“And if old players are welcome why is Fran Benali banned?

“And why when I’m invited into a corporate box, two security guards are placed outside to stop me going anywhere else apart from the toilet?”

But Le Tissier, who said he had met Cortese and Markus Liebherr shortly after they arrived at St Mary’s, went on to offer an apparent olive branch, saying he would like to meet with Cortese to “discuss differences”.

And has asked the Saints’ communications team to set up an opportunity for the two to talk.

He said: “I’d be more than happy to sit down with Nicola Cortese and some witnesses, season ticket holders.”

• Click here to read more of Cortese's thoughts, including his defence of the sacking of Nigel Adkins.