JACK CORK has revealed that Watford were “a lot keener” to sign him than Saints were to keep him, writes SIMON WALTER.

The Chelsea starlet stunned Saints by opting to join new Watford manager Brendan Rodgers at Vicarage Road for the rest of the season when his four-month loan at St Mary’s expired last week.

Cork, playing in central midfield, made a solid debut in the Hornets’ 1-0 FA Cup win against Scunthorpe United, where he spent last season on loan.

Cork, pictured, explained: “I always had my options open over what was going to happen in January and I was stuck between whether to stay at Southampton or come to Watford.

“But Watford seemed a lot keener than Southampton were on keeping me.

“Southampton said they wanted to keep me and I made some good friends there, so it was a hard choice because everyone at Southampton was good to me.

“But it came down to how much Watford wanted me.”

Full story in today's Daily Echo