GEORGE Burley has repeated his message to Gareth Bale: Please stay at Saints.

The St Mary's manager has consistently told the Daily Echo in recent weeks that his prize asset should not consider a transfer window move away from the club.

After last Saturday's Championship win at QPR, Burley said Bale should not only remain a Saint for the rest of this season, but that he should see out the whole of the contract he signed on his 17th birthday last summer and stay loyal until July 2008.

Burley also told the Echo recently that Theo Walcott should have stayed at Saints this time last year rather than join Arsenal.

The Saints boss repeated that widely-held view in a national newspaper interview today.

"Gareth is going right to the top and it's important he doesn't spoil it like so many others," Burley remarked.

"Take England keeper Richard Wright, whom I gave his Ipswich debut at 17. When Arsenal came in for him I told him it was too early but he wouldn's listen.

"I said he would benefit from having another season playing for Ipswich. However, Arsenal turned his head and he went.

"Where is he now? I don't want that to happen to Gareth".

Wright was sold to Arsenal for £6m in the summer of 2001, just after Ipswich had finished fifth in the Premiership. But he only managed 12 league games for Arsene Wenger's side before moving on just over a year later to Everton for £3.5m.

He has only played 60 league games for the Toffees in four and a half years, and just one this season.

Talking about Walcott, Burley said: "Had he stayed here and then gone to Arsenal it would not have damaged his career in any way. If you are good enough, you are going to get to the top and win everything you need.

"I believe that when you are sold to a club like Arsenal, you need to be ready to step into their first team. Theo is not there yet".

Maintaining a theme he has kept to for the last few months, Burley added: "It is vital that Gareth keeps playing for us for a year and a half.

"That is not a selfish attitude, it is something I believe he needs. For his development and future, he should be playing, not sitting in the reserves and getting the odd game".

Burley worked with players at Ipswich who did stay at Portman Road to learn their trade before moving onto a bigger club.

Darren Bent gained four seasons of first team experience with the Tractor Boys before joining Charlton while Kieron Dyer had three seasons at Ipswich before moving to Newcastle.

"Bank what it takes mentally and physically before making the move," said Burley. "The key for me is that Gareth Bale, in some capacity, stays at Southampton.

"It would be good for him and us.

"I just hope he listens. Others didn't."