Steve Wigley insists he does not dwell on his 17-game spell as Saints manager.

Wigley, now the first-team coach at Manchester City, will be up against Saints for the first time since leaving his post as academy director 18 months ago during Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie.

The 45-year-old is best remembered at St Mary's for his four-month stint as Saints boss shortly after the start of the 2004/05 campaign.

He was Rupert Lowe's shock replacement for Paul Sturrock before being sacked to make way for Harry Redknapp after just one Premiership win - ironically against Pompey.

Wigley resumed his role as academy director in February 2005 before being reunited with Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce, his former Nottingham Forest teammate, at the end of that season.

Now he is preparing to welcome some of the players he coached at St Mary's to the City of Manchester stadium.

Wigley said: "I don't really dwell on what happened when I was manager at Southampton, but I have no regrets.

"I was offered the manager's job once and turned it down and then was offered it again and took it.

"I enjoyed my spell at Southampton. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud of what I achieved in terms of youth development.

"A few of the young players still ring me up now and again but I don't really have anything to do with Saints any more".

Manchester-born Wigley spent six years at Saints but until now has refused to talk about his time on the south coast.

He continued: "When Theo (Walcott) was leaving for Arsenal everyone wanted to speak to me about him, but I refused because I work for Manchester City now and that is where my entire loyalty and focus lie.

"I enjoyed my time there and I am pleased with the amount young players who came through".