IT was interesting and pleasing to see that Matt Le Tissier has been appointed as an ambassador of Southampton FC.

I’m always curious to see where former players are now and what they are doing.

Not just those who played under me but many more who came through the youth system, now known as the academy, that I set up.

In those days you could sign players when they were 14. I still recall Matt arriving with fellow Channel Islander Graeme Le Saux in the early eighties.

Most of the youngsters came from Tyneside, Bristol and London but Matt was recommended by a teacher from Guernsey, while Le Saux came from Jersey.

Le Saux was more homesick but eventually signed and thankfully I got Matty on schoolboy forms before anyone else could.

It is pleasing that after such a wonderful career his contribution and loyalty to Southampton FC has been officially recognised. As well as being a one-club man and voted its greatest player ever, Matt has always supported the club in an unofficial capacity.

It’s good that Saints are doing what other big clubs have been doing for many years, by making an ambassador’s role official.

I have always found the former Tottenham defender Gary Mabbutt great company. He is a legend at Spurs and is now in charge of his club’s team of ambassadors.

Spurs have at least eight ex-players organised by Gary on matchdays.

They have to arrive properly dressed at 10am and are there till 6pm.

The supporters love to meet them, hear them speak and answer questions. This has started to happen at our club.

I myself was asked by Nicky Banger, one of my old youth players who now brings ex-players into St Mary’s on matchdays, to attend.

I went into different rooms before kick-off and was interviewed in each one before returning to the main one at the end of the game to talk about how the team had played etc.

It’s good that our club is respecting its history and tradition more than it has done in previous years.

It seems to realise how important it is and how much the true supporters enjoy catching up with ex- players, finding out what they are doing now and recalling great memories.

David Peach was a guest at one recent game and was able to talk about his cup final memories, for example.

We also have to remember the Saints Foundation, which I have been delighted to help out on many occasions, for doing such a wonderful job in the community with not only charitable fundraising but also visits to hospitals and schools for the disabled etc.

All we need now is for our results on the pitch to improve to pull us further from the bottom three.

I think we would all be happy if we reach halfway by the end of the season.

As Matt himself told the Daily Echo this week, there is a lot of support for Mr Hasenhuttl.

Let’s hope we’ll be doing a Bruce Forsyth at the end of the season and saying Hasen he done well!

The FA Cup is still a competition the older players like us to do well in and I think we have a good chance of that this year.

If we win the replay against Derby County, playing Accrington Stanley away will give our new manager an idea of what English football history and tradition is about, being one of our oldest clubs.

I can see the draw opening up for us. I think this year could turn out to be a good one for the club, not just on the pitch but off it thanks to its improving relationship with the community.