SAINTS captain James Ward-Prowse was left with mixed emotions as he reflected on a difficult and ultimately disastrous season for the club following Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Liverpool.

Entering the final weekend of the season, Saints fate had already long been sealed with relegation to the Championship confirmed earlier in May with a 2-0 defeat to Fulham.

But they at least gave the St Mary’s faithful something of a spirited goodbye as they fought back from two goals down - Ward-Prowse himself notching his side's first of the game - to take a 4-2 lead against Jurgen Klopp’s side before Codky Gakpo and Diogo Jota made it 4-4.

Ward-Prowse was substituted with three minutes of normal time remaining to a rousing standing ovation on what could be his final appearance for the club.

And speaking after the draw, Ward-Prowse was left picking through the emotions of a thrilling day to bring to an end the most challenging of seasons.

“This is a club that’s meant a lot to me,” he told the Saints club website, “I’ve been here for 20 years now and had a fantastic journey and enjoyed every minute of it, and you never know what’s going to happen in the future.

​​“I come away from this season with my head held high knowing that I’ve done everything I can for this club, not only this year but ever since I came through the door as an eight-year-old. It’s been a fantastic time, so I’ll get away now and recharge the batteries.

“It’s a strange day because everything is kind of decided before the game. A strange day, one full of emotion for everybody I’m sure, and we know it's going to be a tough time for the club moving forward.

"But again, it doesn’t matter the result, this club has always got a good way of treating people. The so-called Southampton Way and we mustn’t lose that, that’s what the club’s about.”

In what could be a fitting passing of the torch, Ward-Prowse was replaced by Sam Amo-Ameyaw, a Saints academy hopeful who at 16 years and 314 days old became the youngest player to play for the club in the Premier League.

But despite significant speculation that Ward-Prowse’s Saints journey could be coming to an end, manager Ruben Selles insisted after the dramatic draw that the midfielder’s withdrawal was not a chance to say ‘goodbye’.

“It wasn't a goodbye. Prowsey has been here for 20 years and is the captain.

“He deserved that moment with the crowd to end the season that hasn't been easy. We didn't think about what happens next."

While the future remains murky for Ward-Prowse and a host of other Saints players, Theo Walcott announced ahead of the final day that he will be departing the club when his contract expires at the end of June.

Saints now have 68 days to prepare for the start of the Championship season, set to kick-off in the first week of August.